We burned with love for ourselves, all of us, starters of the fire we suffered- our love was the affliction for which only our love was the cure.
Jonathan Safran FoerRead
In America right now, we use words like 'smart' to talk about bombs. American rhetoric is grounded in ideas of capital-G Good, capital-E Evil, and it's very clear who is on which side. But in a book you can do just the opposite. You can use all lower-case words.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes the binary nature of American discourse on morality, emphasizing the nuanced approach that literature can offer.
In this quote, Jonathan Safran Foer highlights the simplification of complex moral issues in American society by framing them as purely good or evil. He contrasts this with the depth and complexity that literature allows, suggesting that writing can explore the gray areas of morality rather than confining itself to clear-cut categories. This reflects a broader commentary on how language shapes our understanding of morality, conflict, and human experience.
Themes
MoralityLanguageNuanceLiteratureDiscourse
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on moral philosophy, one might reference this quote to highlight the complexities of ethical language.
More from Jonathan Safran Foer
All quotes →Memory was supposed to fill the time, but it made time a hole to be filled. Each second was two hundred yards, to be walked, crawled. You couldn't see the next hour, it was so far in the distance. Tomorrow was over the horizon, and would take an entire day to reach.
Jonathan Safran FoerRead
She was not crying Which surprised me very much But I understand now That she had found places For her melancholy That were behind more masks Than only her eyes
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What do babies dream of? She must be dreaming of the before-life, just as I dream of the afterlife.
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A few weeks after the worst day, I started writing lots of letters. I don't know why, but it was one of the only things that made my boots lighter.
Jonathan Safran FoerRead
What is being awake if not interpreting our dreams, or dreaming if not interpreting our wake?
Jonathan Safran FoerRead
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