Literary notes about Modicum (AI summary)
The term "modicum" is often employed in literature to denote the smallest yet critical quantity of something, whether it be a tangible resource or an abstract quality. Nietzsche, for example, uses it to highlight a minimal—but invaluable—amount of human reason, freedom, or power, suggesting that even a scant dose of these elements carries significant weight ([1], [2], [3], [4]). Carlyle similarly deploys the term to describe a minimal allotment, whether referring to daily sustenance or a sparse number of armaments in a turbulent era ([5], [6]). Authors like Fielding and Verne incorporate "modicum" to underscore moments where an insufficient, yet necessary, measure determines duty or personal resolve ([7], [8]). Even in texts steeped in classical language or allegory, such as those by Locke or Joyce, the word captures the idea that a minute quantity—be it of resistance, effort, or applicability—can be pivotal within its respective context ([9], [10]). Collectively, these usages illustrate that "modicum" serves as a precise marker of minimal yet essential elements that often play a profound role in the narrative or argument.
- "Nothing is purchased more dearly," says the same book a little later, "than the modicum of human reason and freedom which is now our pride.
— from The Genealogy of Morals by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - A certain modicum of brutality [Pg 359] cannot be dispensed with: no more than we can do without a certain approximation to criminality.
— from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book III and IV by Nietzsche - The modicum of power which you represent decides your rank; all the rest is cowardice.
— from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book III and IV by Nietzsche - There is nothing on earth which can have any value, if it have not a modicum of power—granted, of course, that life itself is the Will to Power.
— from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book I and II by Nietzsche - 'Two ounces of bread per day' in the modicum allotted: wide-waving, doleful are the Bakers' Queues; Farmers' houses are become pawnbrokers' shops.
— from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle - Hitherto at the Hotel-de-Ville was only such modicum of indifferent firelocks as we have seen.
— from The French Revolution: A History by Thomas Carlyle - Had the modicum been less, I should have known my duty.
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding - After having taken a very small modicum of the welcome refreshment, he had seated himself in a corner with his usual imperturbable gravity.
— from A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne - Cum ille si intolerabilis tyrannus est (modicum enim ferre omnino debet) resistere cum reverentia possit, Barclay contra Monarchom.
— from Second Treatise of Government by John Locke - In her lay a Godframed Godgiven preformed possibility which thou hast fructified with thy modicum of man’s work.
— from Ulysses by James Joyce