“ ‘ “A man should be fixed,” the chairman said. “The board felt that a certain firmness was lacking—”

‘ “That one ought to know his necessity and bow down to it?”

‘ “Yes,” the chairman said, “that’s it.”

‘ “One is what one is?”

‘ “Properly so,” the chairman said, “yes.”

‘ “No,” the young man said. “What you call character is the mere obstinacy of the self, the sinister will’s solipsist I am. One adjusts his humanity to the humanity of others. Not I am, but You are— there’s the necessity. Love cooperates; it plays ball. I hate a chaos. Does the company need me?” ’ ”

(Stanley Elkin, A Bad Man, p. 171–2.)