"Intellectual despair results in neither weakness nor dreams, but in violence. It is only a matter of knowing how to give vent to one's rage; whether one only wants to wander like madmen around prisons, or whether one wants to overturn them"

This quote by Georges Bataille speaks to the power of intellectual anguish and how it can manifest itself in violence. He recommends that when one remains in a state of anguish, they have 2 options: to wander around prisons like a madman, or to attempt to overturn them. This indicates that misery can lead to a sense of powerlessness, but also to a desire to take action and battle against the oppressive forces that have actually caused the despair. Bataille is recommending that violence is a natural response to despair, and that it depends on the individual to decide how to express their rage. He is likewise recommending that violence can be a type of resistance, and that it can be used to challenge oppressive systems. Ultimately, this quote speaks with the power of despair and how it can be utilized to combat versus oppression.