"The anguish of the neurotic individual is the same as that of the saint. The neurotic, the saint are engaged in the same battle. Their blood flows from similar wounds. But the first one gasps and the other one gives"

Georges Bataille's quote draws an extensive parallel in between the experiences of unstable people and saints, suggesting that at their core, both are taken part in a comparable existential battle, albeit with various outcomes. This analogy welcomes a mental and philosophical expedition of the human condition, particularly in terms of suffering and transcendence.

The "anguish" of the aberrant and the saint describes a deep existential suffering and a conflict with the profound questions of human existence. For the neurotic individual, this suffering manifests as internal conflict and turmoil. Neurotics are often characterized by their stress and anxieties, their ruthless self-questioning, and their struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world. They experience extensive injuries-- emotional, mental, and spiritual-- and are often overwhelmed by them, signified by their "gasping.".

On the other hand, the saint changes this suffering into an opportunity for transcendence. The saint's battle is similar in nature to that of the aberrant, but the saint channels their suffering into altruism, empathy, and a connection with something greater than themselves. They "provide" rather of "gasp," recommending that their action to suffering is to channel it outward, into acts of love, sacrifice, and service.

Bataille's usage of "their blood flows from similar injuries" stresses that essentially, both the neurotic and the saint are human, subject to the same existential dilemmas and vulnerabilities. The distinction depends on their reaction to these injuries. The aberrant stays caught within, not able to see beyond their personal pain, while the saint welcomes it as a pathway to enlightenment and connection with others.

Therefore, Bataille's quote obliges us to think about the transformative power of suffering. It recommends that while the experience of anguish is universal, it is the significance we ascribe to it and the method we respond that defines our journey. In this light, the saint works as an aspirational design, demonstrating the potential for suffering to catalyze individual growth and contribution to the higher good.