I never paid you a compliment, Rachel, in my life. Successful love may sometimes use the language of flattery, I admit. But hopeless love, dearest, always speaks the truth.
Wilkie CollinsRead
I have always held the old-fashioned opinion that the primary object of work of fiction should be to tell a story.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Fiction's main purpose is to narrate a story rather than serve other functions.
Wilkie Collins emphasizes the traditional belief that the essence of fiction should revolve around storytelling. In an age where narratives could be obscured by experiments in form or style, Collins reminds us that the central aim of a work of fiction is to engage the reader with a compelling story that resonates and entertains.
Themes
FictionStorytellingNarrativeArtLiterature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a writing workshop to inspire aspiring authors to focus on narrative.
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Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.
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Poetry is often the art of overhearing yourself say things you didn't know you knew. It is a learned skill to force yourself to articulate your life, your present world or your possibilities for the future.
David WhyteRead