"The will was the main target of bitterness. The people attacked by this malaise began to lose all desire, and, within a few years, they became unable to leave their world.

They continued going to work, watching television, having children, complaining about the traffic, but these things happened automatically, unaccompanied by any particular emotion, because, after all, everything was under control.

The great problem with poisoning by bitterness was that the passions--- hatred, love, despair, enthusiasm, curiosity--- also ceased to manifest themselves. After a while, the embittered person felt no desire at all. She or he lacked the will either to live or to die, that was the problem."

- Paulo Coelho, Veronika Decides to Die