This list includes a few of the most important quotes that channel these themes. They convey Alex’s true nature, which was altered by the procedure, and what it means after his free will was taken away. Readers may have difficulty with some of the language due to Anthony Burgess’s use of NADSAT, a slang language he invented for the novel.
Good and Free Will
“The attempt to impose upon man, a creature of growth and capable of sweetness, to ooze juicily at the last round the bearded lips of God, to attempt to impose, I say, laws and conditions appropriate to a mechanical creation, against this I raise my sword-pen.”
Alex reads from F. Alexander manuscript, Part 1: Chapter 2
This quote appears in Part 1, Chapter 2, within the manuscript by F. Alexander, titled “A Clockwork Orange“. Alex and his droogs break into F. Alexander’s home, where Alex reads these lines before brutally assaulting the author and his wife. This quote criticizes the dehumanizing effects of imposing rigid laws on individuals, likening them to mechanical creations. F. Alexander’s manuscript argues against the loss of free will and individuality, emphasizing the importance of preserving human nature. This quote represents the core theme of free will in the novel. F. Alexander’s words resonate with Alex’s later experiences after undergoing the Ludovico Technique, where his ability to choose between good and evil is stripped away. F. Alexander is pompous in his speech and too self-important, and his expression mirrors this fact.
“What does God want? Does God want goodness or the choice of goodness? Is a man who chooses the bad perhaps in some way better than a man who has the good imposed upon him?“
Prison Chaplain, Part 2: Chapter 3
Here the prison chaplain expresses his concerns about the Ludovico Technique. He questions the morality of imposing goodness on Alex, pondering the implications of removing an individual’s ability to choose. The quote raises the ethical dilemma of whether forced goodness has any true moral value. The chaplain’s rhetorical questions challenge the idea that morality can be meaningful without choice, suggesting that true goodness must be freely chosen rather than imposed.
“You are passing now to a region where you will be beyond the reach of the power of prayer. A terrible terrible thing to consider. And yet, in a sense, in choosing to be deprive of the ability to make an ethical choice, you have in a sense really chosen the good. So I shall like to think. So, God help us all […]”
Prison Chaplain, Part 2: Chapter 3
The prison chaplain speaks these lines. Alex is considered for the reclamation therapy, and the chaplain comments that this is uncharted territory. The chaplain wonders if choosing to be deprived of the will to choose either good or evil when one is doing so to stop doing evil is in itself a choice to be good. He laments Alex’s state and describes how the young man is beyond the point where he can be human. He has become something else entirely and raises new philosophical questions.
“More, badness is of the self, the one, the you or me on our oddy knockies, and that self is made by old Bog or God and is his great pride and radosty. But the not-self cannot have the bad, meaning they of the government and the judges and the schools cannot allow the bad because they cannot allow the self.”
Alex to P.R. Deltoid, Part 1: Chapter 4
Alex speaks this line to his probation officer, P.R. Deltoid, as he reflects on the nature of evil in humans. He suggests that evil is an inherent part of the self, which is intrinsic to human nature and cannot be eradicated by external forces. He defends his actions as a natural expression of his true self, suggesting that attempts by the state to suppress this “badness” are futile and unnatural. This line highlights the tension between the individual’s natural inclinations and the state’s attempts to enforce conformity, questioning the legitimacy of a society that seeks to eliminate the darker aspects of human nature.
“And is not our modern history, my brothers, the story of brave malenky selves fighting these big machines? I am serious with you, brothers, over this. But what I do I do because I like to do.”
Alex to P.R. Deltoid, Part 1: Chapter 4
Alex reflects on the nature of modern history, likening it to a struggle between individuals (“malenky selves”) and the powerful institutions (“big machines”) that seek to control them. He justifies his actions by asserting that he acts out of personal desire and the preservation of that self against external influence. Alex is comparing the individual’s struggle against oppressive societal structures to a battle between the small and the powerful, framing his violent behavior as a form of rebellion against these forces. He asserts his independence and autonomy, suggesting that his actions are a deliberate choice rather than a result of societal conditioning.
“It may not be nice to be good, little 6655321. It may be horrible to be good. And when I say that to you I realize how self-contradictory that sounds. I know I shall have many sleepless nights about this.”
Prison Chaplain, Part 2; Chapter 3
The prison chaplain speaks this quote as he reflects on the ethical implications of the Reclamation Treatment that Alex is about to undergo. He is aware of the moral dilemma it poses, even as he acknowledges the necessity of Alex’s “reform.” Beyond that, he is aware of how unrealistic Alex’s expectation is. Any change compelled is bound to be hell for the subject, is the chaplain’s unstated idea. The chaplain’s admission of sleepless nights reveals the unease even the religious authority views the treatment. The irony of “being horrible to be good” underscores the novel’s exploration of morality and free will.
“A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man.”
Prison Chaplain, Part 2; Chapter 3
The prison chaplain delivers this line while discussing the moral implications of the Reclamation Treatment. He is concerned about the loss of Alex’s ability to choose between good and evil. The chaplain states that the ability to make choices, even bad ones, defines a person as human. To the chaplain, stripping someone of their free will dehumanizes them. It raises the question of whether a person forced to be good is truly good or merely a “clockwork orange”—a mechanized version of a person, outwardly human but lacking true humanity.
Violence
“And, my brothers, it was real satisfaction to me to waltz–left two three, right two three–and carve left cheeky and right cheeky, so that like two curtains of blood seemed to pour out at the same time, one on either side of his fat filthy oily snout in the winter starlight. Down this blood poured in like red curtains.“
Alex, Part 1: Chapter 2
This quote appears at the beginning of the “A Clockwork Orange“, where Alex describes the violence he inflicts on a Billyboy. The passage shows his sadistic pleasure in the act. The quote vividly depicts Alex’s enjoyment of violence, describing it in artistic and almost celebratory terms, revealing the dark and twisted aspects of his character. This quote is a stark portrayal of Alex’s violent nature, reflecting the brutality and lack of empathy that define his character at the novel’s start. The metaphor of the “waltz” and “curtains of blood” adds a grotesque beauty to the violence, highlighting Burgess’s use of contrasting imagery to explore the theme of ultraviolence. This quote sets the tone for the novel’s exploration of the dark side of human nature.
Change
“And nor would he be able to stop his own son, brothers. And so it would itty on to like the end of the world, round and round and round, like some bolshy gigantic like chelloveck, like old Bog Himself (by courtesy of Korova Milkbar) turning and turning and turning a vonny grahzny orange in his gigantic rookers.“
Alex, Part 3, Chapter 7
These lines are found in the last chapter of “A Clockwork Orange,” where Alex reflects on the possibility of becoming a father. He contemplates the cyclical nature of life, acknowledging that his future son may repeat the same patterns of violence and rebellion that defined his youth, and it will be beyond his control. This quote represents a moment of introspection for Alex, marking a significant shift in his character. His contemplation of fatherhood and the cyclical nature of violence indicates a growing awareness of the consequences of his actions and the inevitability of human behavior.
“But, sir, sirs, I see that it’s wrong. It’s wrong because it’s against like society, it’s wrong because every veck on earth has the right to live and be happy without being beaten and tolchocked and knifed. I’ve learned a lot, oh really I have.”
Alex, Part 2; Chapter 6
Alex speaks these words during his treatment, attempting to convince the authorities that he has learned his lesson and is ready to be released. He claims to have realized the wrongness of his previous behavior and expresses a newfound respect for societal norms. However, Alex is only trying to convince the authorities that he is reformed, simply trying to end his suffering. Alex knows what the authorities want to hear and tries a desperate manipulation tactic. This ploy does not work, and the authorities continue with the Reclamation Treatment and see it to the end.
“What a change is here, gentlemen, from the wretched hoodlum the State committed to unprofitable punishment some two years ago, unchanged after two years. Unchanged, do I say? Not quite. Prison taught him the false smile, the rubbed hands of hypocrisy, the fawning greased obsequious leer. Other vices it taught him, as well as confirming him in those he had long practiced before. But gentlemen, enough of words. Actions speak louder than. Action now. Observe, all.”
Dr. Brodsky, Part 2, Chapter 7
This quote occurs after Alex undergoes the Ludovico Technique. Dr. Brodsky, a key figure in administering the treatment, confidently declares that Alex has been “cured” of his violent tendencies. The quote reflects the doctor’s belief in the success of the Ludovico Technique. Dr. Brodsky justifies the use of the technique by emphasizing its effectiveness in altering Alex’s behavior, promoting it over imprisonment as a corrective tool. He praises the Ludovico Technique and the broader implications of using psychological conditioning to control behavior. His words reveal the superficial nature of Alex’s “reformation” in prison, emphasizing the artificiality of his change. In contrast, reclamation therapy, while stripping Alex of his free will, wholly eradicates his violent and criminal tendencies.
Humans as Means to an End
“‘Our subject is, you see, impelled towards the good by, paradoxically, being impelled towards evil. The intention to act violently is accompanied by strong feelings of physical distress. To counter these the subject has to switch to a diametrically opposed attitude. Any questions?’”
Dr. Brodsky, Part 2; Chapter 7
Dr. Brodsky speaks this line during a demonstration of Alex’s conditioned response to violence. He explains to the audience how the Reclamation Treatment forces Alex to associate violence with intense physical discomfort, thereby compelling him to avoid it. Dr. Brodsky is describing the twisted logic of the treatment, where Alex is coerced into being “good” by the unbearable consequences of contemplating violence rather than out of moral conviction. He presents the treatment as a success to his audience by showing the control they have exerted over Alex’s behavior. Dr. Brodsky’s clinical detachment and the paradox he presents illustrate how scientists can turn into forces of evil by withdrawing themselves from the responsibility of making humane judgments because they are too focused on “quantifiable results.”
“You had a very positive response. Tomorrow, of course, there’ll be two sessions, morning and afternoon, and I should imagine that you’ll be feeling a bit limp at the end of the day. But we have to be hard on you, you have to be cured.”
Dr. Branom, Part 2; Chapter 5
This quote is spoken by Dr. Branom, one of the physicians overseeing Alex’s Reclamation Treatment. At this point in the story, Alex has begun his “cure” through aversion therapy, where he is conditioned to associate violence with intense physical sickness. This quote highlights the brutal nature of the conditioning process Alex is subjected to. Dr. Branom’s words are clinical and detached. He does not care about Alex’s suffering; he only wants to achieve a “cure.” The use of phrases like “you have to be cured” underscores the totalitarian approach to morality, where the individual’s autonomy is sacrificed for state convenience.
“’Common criminals like this unsavoury crowd’–(that meant me, brothers, as well as the others, who were real prestoopnicks and treacherous with it)–‘can best be dealt with on a purely curative basis. Kill the criminal reflex, that’s all. Full implementation in a year’s time. Punishment means nothing to them, you can see that. They enjoy their so-called punishment. They start murdering each other.’”
The Governor, Part 2; Chapter 2
The Governor delivers this speech as he discusses the need for the Reclamation Treatment. He believes that traditional punishment is ineffective and that criminals like Alex need to have their violent tendencies “cured” through more extreme measures. His justification for the use of the Reclamation Treatment is that traditional methods of punishment fail to rehabilitate criminals and only lead to more violence. The Governor’s dismissive attitude toward the prisoners and his focus on a “curative” approach reflects the dehumanizing mindset that underpins the novel’s dystopian society. The idea of “killing the criminal reflex” through conditioning aligns with the novel’s exploration of free will and the consequences of state control over individual behavior. By equating punishment with enjoyment for criminals, the Governor justifies extreme measures, further highlighting the moral decay within the society depicted in “A Clockwork Orange“.
“He just sort of looked right through us poor plennies, saying, in a very beautiful real educated goloss: ‘The Government cannot be concerned any longer with outmoded penological theories. Cram criminals together and see what happens. You get concentrated criminality, crime in the midst of punishment. Soon we may be needing all our prison space for political offenders.’”
The Governor, Part 2; Chapter 2
This quote is part of the Governor’s speech expressing his disdain for traditional penological theories. He criticizes the practice of cramming criminals together in prisons, which he believes only breeds more criminal behavior. He condemns the inefficacy of current penal systems and suggests a shift towards more severe methods, such as the Reclamation Treatment. This quote reflects the novel’s critique of the penal system and the societal change toward more draconian control methods. The Governor’s dismissive attitude toward existing theories and his ominous remark about needing prison space for political offenders foreshadow a society where dissent is criminalized. The “beautiful real educated goloss” contrasts sharply with the brutal reality of the policies he advocates, a paradoxical coexistence of refined culture with blatant brutality as tools of governance in that society. What stands out the most is that people are considered as nothing more than objects to be manipulated as the state wishes.
“The tradition of liberty means all. The common people will let it go, oh yes. They will sell liberty for a quieter life. That is why they must be prodded, prodded— Eat well, poor boy, poor victim of the modern world.”
F. Alexander, Part 3, Chapter 5
F. Alexander, a writer and political dissident, says this to Alex when he considers using Alex as a tool against the authoritarian government as he reflects on the erosion of liberty in society. He laments the public’s complacency at this loss, suggesting that people are willing to give up their freedoms for comfort and security. This is a very ironic moment in “A Clockwork Orange” because when Alex asks F. Alexander about his welfare and involvement in the writer’s plan, F. Alexander does not consider it a valid concern. While F. ALexander is protesting the government’s exploitation of the public, he is equally exploiting Alex, who is at his mercy.
