If I had to give young writers advice, I would say don't listen to writers talking about writing or themselves.
Was it always my nature to take a bad time and block out the good times, until any success became an accident and failure seemed the only truth?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the tendency to dwell on negative experiences while overlooking positive ones, highlighting a distorted perception of success and failure.
Lillian Hellman's quote captures the struggle many face when it comes to self-perception in relation to success and failure. It suggests that one's nature might lead them to focus on the negative aspects of their life, blocking out joyous experiences, thus creating a mindset where failures dominate their thoughts and successes feel accidental. This introspection reveals the psychological barriers that can hinder personal growth and genuine appreciation of achievements.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech on resilience, this quote could illustrate the importance of recognizing both successes and failures.
More from Lillian Hellman
All quotes βIt is best to act with confidence, no matter how little right you have to it.
If you believe, as the Greeks did, that man is at the mercy of the gods, then you write tragedy. The end is inevitable from the beginning. But if you believe that man can solve his own problems and is at nobody's mercy, then you will probably write melodrama.
Nobody knows what you want except you. And nobody will be as sorry as you if you don't get it. Wanting some other way to live is proof enough of deserving it. Having it is hard work, but not having it is sheer hell.
Failure in the theater is more dramatic and uglier than any other form of writing. It costs so much, you feel so guilty.
It is not good to see people who have been pretending strength all their lives lose it even for a minute.
Similar quotes
Why do people talk of the horrors of old age? It's great. I feel like a fine old car with the parts gradually wearing out, but I'm not complaining,... Those who find growing old terrible are people who haven't done what they wanted with their lives.
Stop saying yes out of fear about what others will think about you and say NO out of love for yourself!
Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise.
Every great man is always being helped by everybody, for his gift is to get good out of all things and all persons.
Life is short, and the Art long; the occasion fleeting; experience fallacious, and judgment difficult. The physician must not only be prepared to do what is right himself, but also to make the patient, the attendants, and externals cooperate.
What you put out is already on its way back to you.