Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is teeming with quotes and phrases that emphasize Conrad's themes and assertions. His quotes often use stylistic techniques to bring out the meaning in his writing. A prime example of a quote that uses stylistic techniques as well as verifies Conrad's assertions is "We live, as we dream—alone"(44).

The main character, Marlow, mentions this quote when describing the sensation he felt on his journey to find Kurtz. Marlow is suggesting that we essentially live alone because it's impossible for someone to feel what you feel. Among other things, this quote is filled with imagery. Reading it makes you recall past dreams as well as the isolation one feels during dreams. In most dreams, the dreamer exists in a world all their own that no one else can experience. Conrad's quote makes you visualize this isolation. The quote is also a simile. It compares life to a dream, indicating that both revolve around solitude. The quote even exhibits a bit of foreshadowing. The quote suggests that we live alone, and as it turns out, several characters end up living alone. Kurtz ends up living alone (and dying alone) because he is taken away from the natives who admire him. Marlow ends up living alone because the one person he thought he could relate to ends up dying right in front of him. Even the Intended lives alone because her husband can no longer be with her. Conrad uses all these stylistic techniques in order to accentuate the idea that man lives alone.

All of Conrad's novels have certain assertions or themes that are common in each book. The quote "We live, as we dream—alone" verifies several of these assertions. Obviously, it proves that we live in an amoral and hostile world. Nothing can be considered more hostile than a world in which we are the sole survivors. A world in which we couldn't convey or express our feelings to others would result in a nervous breakdown. The quote also shows that the novel is an intricate study of one's choices or views. From the quote, we realize that Marlow views the world as a lonely and desolate environment. The choices he makes throughout the novel reflect his need to express his feelings to others. He wants to find Kurtz to prove to himself that he is not alone in the world. Lastly, the quote emphasizes the contests of strength that Marlow must go through. He has to find the will to keep trucking in a world where he is isolated. The whole novel depicts his struggle with isolation and confinement.

In closing, the quote "We live, as we dream—alone" underlines the assertions Conrad is trying to make. It helps bring out the overall concept of loneliness and solitude in a world seemingly full of life. The use of stylistic techniques also helps accentuate the theme in Conrad's Heart of Darkness.