When I learnt to write I became my own master, I became very strong, and that strength is with me to this very day.
V. S. NaipaulRead
Each book, intuitively sensed and, in the case of fiction, intuitively worked out, stands on what has gone before, and grows out of it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Books build upon past knowledge and experiences, particularly in fiction, where creativity evolves from existing ideas.
This quote by V. S. Naipaul emphasizes the interconnectedness of literature, particularly in the realm of fiction. It suggests that every book is not created in isolation; rather, it is shaped by previous works and the ideas that precede it. This reflects the notion that writing is a cumulative art, where authors draw inspiration from their predecessors, thereby contributing to a larger literary tradition.
Themes
BooksLiteratureCreativityFictionInspiration
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the influence of classic literature on modern writing.
More from V. S. Naipaul
All quotes βIt is wrong to have an ideal view of the world. That's where the mischief starts. That's where everything starts unravelling.
V. S. NaipaulRead
If you decide to move to another country and to live within its laws you don't express your disregard for the essence of the culture. It's a form of aggression.
V. S. NaipaulRead
One must always try to see the truth of a situation - it makes things universal.
V. S. NaipaulRead
His ignorance seemed to widen with everything he read.
V. S. NaipaulRead
I think when you see so many Hindu temples of the 10th century or earlier disfigured, defaced, you realise that something terrible happened. I feel the civilisation of that closed world was mortally wounded by those invasions the old world is destroyed. That has to be understood. Ancient Hindu India was destroyed.
V. S. NaipaulRead
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