The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.
Don DelilloRead
I don’t want your candor. I want your soul in a silver thimble.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a desire for deep emotional connection over superficial honesty.
In this quote, Don DeLillo emphasizes the importance of intimacy and the need for genuine emotional engagement rather than mere straightforwardness. The metaphor of wanting someone’s 'soul in a silver thimble' suggests a longing for a treasured, delicate part of a person, reflecting a desire for something precious and rare in relationships, rather than the bare truth of their thoughts or feelings.
Themes
RelationshipsIntimacyConnectionEmotionHonesty
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared at a wedding to highlight the importance of emotional depth in marriage.
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I used to think it was possible for an artist to alter the inner life of the culture. Now bomb-makers and gunmen have taken that territory.
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[I]n the American soul there is a lonely individual standing in a vast landscape. He is either on a horse or driving a car, depending, and either way he’s carrying a gun. This is one of the essential images in American mythology.
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