It is by all odds the loftiest of cities. It even managed to reach the highest point in the sky at the lowest moment of the depression.
E. B. WhiteRead
Don't write about Man; write about a man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focus on individual experiences rather than generalizations to capture the essence of humanity.
E. B. White urges writers to delve into personal stories and the intricacies of individual experiences instead of making broad, generalized statements about humanity. By centering their creativity on a single person, writers can evoke deeper emotions and connect with readers on a more personal level, revealing universal truths through the lens of one life.
Themes
WritingIndividualHuman ExperienceStorytelling
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, I might share this quote to encourage participants to focus on personal narratives.
More from E. B. White
All quotes βIt isn't silence you can cut with a knife any more, it's interchange of ideas. Intelligent discussion of practically everything is what is breaking up modern marriage.
E. B. WhiteRead
The main thing I try to do is write as clearly as I can. Because I have the greatest respect for the reader, and if he's going to the trouble of reading what I've written -- I'm a slow reader myself and I guess most people are -- why, the least I can do is make it as easy as possible for him to find out what I'm trying to say, trying to get at. I rewrite a good deal to make it clear.
E. B. WhiteRead
A good farmer is nothing more nor less than a handy man with a sense of humus.
E. B. WhiteRead
A despot doesn't fear eloquent writers preaching freedom- he fears a drunken poet who may crack a joke that will take hold.
E. B. WhiteRead
All writing is communication; creative writing is communication through revelation-it is the Self-escaping into the open.
E. B. WhiteRead
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