All 13 Uses of
attain
in
Notes from the Underground
- The fact is, gentlemen, it seems there must really exist something that is dearer to almost every man than his greatest advantages, or (not to be illogical) there is a most advantageous advantage (the very one omitted of which we spoke just now) which is more important and more advantageous than all other advantages, for the sake of which a man if necessary is ready to act in opposition to all laws; that is, in opposition to reason, honour, peace, prosperity—in fact, in opposition to all those excellent and useful things if only he can attain that fundamental, most advantageous advantage which is dearer to him than all.†
Chpt 1.7attain = gain or reach something with effort
- We sometimes choose absolute nonsense because in our foolishness we see in that nonsense the easiest means for attaining a supposed advantage.†
Chpt 1.8 *attaining = gaining or reaching something with effort
- He will launch a curse upon the world, and as only man can curse (it is his privilege, the primary distinction between him and other animals), may be by his curse alone he will attain his object—that is, convince himself that he is a man and not a piano-key!†
Chpt 1.8attain = gain or reach something with effort
- May it not be that he loves chaos and destruction (there can be no disputing that he does sometimes love it) because he is instinctively afraid of attaining his object and completing the edifice he is constructing?†
Chpt 1.9attaining = gaining or reaching something with effort
- And who knows (there is no saying with certainty), perhaps the only goal on earth to which mankind is striving lies in this incessant process of attaining, in other words, in life itself, and not in the thing to be attained, which must always be expressed as a formula, as positive as twice two makes four, and such positiveness is not life, gentlemen, but is the beginning of death.†
Chpt 1.9
- And who knows (there is no saying with certainty), perhaps the only goal on earth to which mankind is striving lies in this incessant process of attaining, in other words, in life itself, and not in the thing to be attained, which must always be expressed as a formula, as positive as twice two makes four, and such positiveness is not life, gentlemen, but is the beginning of death.†
Chpt 1.9attained = gained or reached something with effort
- Anyway, one can observe a certain awkwardness about him when he has attained such objects.†
Chpt 1.9
- He loves the process of attaining, but does not quite like to have attained, and that, of course, is very absurd.†
Chpt 1.9attaining = gaining or reaching something with effort
- He loves the process of attaining, but does not quite like to have attained, and that, of course, is very absurd.†
Chpt 1.9attained = gained or reached something with effort
- While if you stick to consciousness, even though the same result is attained, you can at least flog yourself at times, and that will, at any rate, liven you up.†
Chpt 1.9
- Innumerable "romantics" attain later in life to considerable rank in the service.†
Chpt 2.1attain = gain or reach something with effort
- The point was that I had attained my object, I had kept up my dignity, I had not yielded a step, and had put myself publicly on an equal social footing with him.†
Chpt 2.1attained = gained or reached something with effort
- But now, having attained my effect, I was suddenly panic-stricken.†
Chpt 2.7
Definition:
to gain or reach something with effort