I began writing when I was still in the British Foreign Service, and it was then understood that even if you wrote about butterfly collecting, you used another name.
John Le CarreRead
By the age of 9 or 10, I knew that I had to cut my own cloth and make my own way.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and independence from a young age.
This quote highlights the realization of personal responsibility and the need to forge one's own path in life, demonstrating that from an early age, one can recognize the significance of independence and the necessity of self-determination. It suggests that understanding the value of crafting one's own destiny is essential to personal growth and success.
Themes
IndependenceSelf-ReliancePersonal GrowthResponsibilityDestiny
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech about preparing for the future, one could quote this to inspire young adults to take charge of their lives.
More from John Le Carre
All quotes →In every war zone that I've been in, there has been a reality and then there has been the public perception of why the war was being fought. In every crisis, the issues have been far more complex than the public has been allowed to know.
John Le CarreRead
The cat sat on the mat is not a story. The cat sat on the other cat’s mat is a story.
John Le CarreRead
The monsters of our childhood do not fade away, neither are they ever wholly monstrous.
John Le CarreRead
Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.
John Le CarreRead
If I had to put a name to it, I would wish that all my books were entertainments. I think the first thing you've got to do is grab the reader by the ear, and make him sit down and listen. Make him laugh, make him feel. We all want to be entertained at a very high level.
John Le CarreRead
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I'm looking forward to being able to retire from being a public figure and being able to afford to be myself!
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Everybody burns out in this world; amateur, pro, it doesn't matter, they all burn out, they all get hurt, the OK guys and the not-OK guys both. That's why everybody takes out a little insurance. I've got some too, here at the bottom of the heap. That way, you manage to survive if you burn out. If you're all by yourself and don't belong anywhere, you go down once, and you're out. Finished.
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I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
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Though I still have no semblance of a life outside of Nine Inch Nails at the moment, I realize my goals have gone from getting a record deal or selling another record to being a better person, more well-rounded, having friends, having a relationship with somebody.
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When it's time to die, let us not discover that we have never lived.
Henry David ThoreauRead
I do not choose that my grave should be dug while I am still alive.
Elizabeth IRead