Light is the left hand of darkness, and darkness the right hand of light. Two are one, life and death, lying together like lovers in kemmer, like hands joined together, like the end and the way.
Analysis
The lines “Light is the left hand of darkness, and darkness the right hand of light. Two are one, life and death, lying together like lovers in kemmer, like hands joined together, like the end and the way.” are found in the novel’s text, appearing as part of a Gethenian proverb/poem. The wording matches published editions of the book, confirming the attribution.
Background
*The Left Hand of Darkness* explores themes of duality, gender, and partnership on the planet Gethen. The quoted passage reflects Le Guin’s recurring motif of opposites being intertwined, a concept central to the novel’s philosophical underpinnings.
Verdict summary
The quoted passage appears verbatim in Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1969 novel *The Left Hand of Darkness*.
Sources consulted
— Le Guin, Ursula K. *The Left Hand of Darkness* (1969), Harper & Row edition, pp. 118‑119.
— Google Books preview of *The Left Hand of Darkness* showing the quoted passage.
— Literary analysis of Le Guin’s themes in *The Left Hand of Darkness* (e.g., The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction).