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EUGENE. I admire what you did back there, Arnold. You remind me of my brother, sometimes. He was always standing up for his principles too.
ARNOLD. Principles are okay. But sometimes they get in the way of reason.
EUGENE. Then how do you know which one is the right one?
ARNOLD. You have to get involved. You don't get involved enough, Eugene
EUGENE. What do you mean?
ARNOLD. You're a witness. You're always standing around watching what's happening. Scribbling in your book what other people do. You have to get in the middle of it. You have to take sides. Make a contribution to the fight.
EUGENE. What fight?
ARNOLD. Any fight. The one you believe in.
EUGENE. Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I’m invisible. Like The Shadow. I can see everyone else, but they can’t see me. That’s what I think writers are. Sort of invisible.
EPSTEIN. Not Tolstoy. Not Dostoyevsky. Not Herman Melville.
EUGENE. Yeah. I have to read those guys.
”
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