Doubt is my boon companion, the faithful St. Bernard ever at my side. Whether writing essays or just going about daily life, I am constantly second-guessing myself. My mind is filled with 'yes, buts,' 'so whats?' and other skeptical rejoinders. I am forever monitoring myself for traces of folly, insensitivity, arrogance, false humility, cruelty, stupidity, immaturity and, guess what, I keep finding examples. Age has not made me wiser, except maybe in retrospect.
A personal essay often includes some or a lot of personal confession. That makes the reader feel less lonely in their confusion and darkness. - Phillip Lopate
A personal essay often includes some or a lot of personal confession. That makes the reader feel less lonely in their confusion and darkness.
- Phillip Lopate
I'm fortunate in being able to find great satisfaction in my work. - Phillip Lopate
I'm fortunate in being able to find great satisfaction in my work.
I am apt to be harsh in my secret judgments of others, seeing them as defective because they are not enough like me. - Phillip Lopate
I am apt to be harsh in my secret judgments of others, seeing them as defective because they are not enough like me.
Confession makes you a more trustworthy narrator. - Phillip Lopate
Confession makes you a more trustworthy narrator.
The essay must be artistically rendered: You must keep the reader engaged, whether with wit, conflict, mischief, and/or yes, with honesty. - Phillip Lopate
The essay must be artistically rendered: You must keep the reader engaged, whether with wit, conflict, mischief, and/or yes, with honesty.
The trick is to realize that one is not important, except insofar as one’s example can serve to elucidate a more widespread human trait and make read… - Phillip Lopate
The trick is to realize that one is not important, except insofar as one’s example can serve to elucidate a more widespread human trait and make read…
... I vowed that I would always respect the right of an individual to kill himself. Whether suicide was a moral or immoral act I no longer felt sure,… - Phillip Lopate
... I vowed that I would always respect the right of an individual to kill himself. Whether suicide was a moral or immoral act I no longer felt sure,…
Domesticity has been a challenge for me but painful as it's been, engaging with family has been a school for reducing solipsism and increasing my und… - Phillip Lopate
Domesticity has been a challenge for me but painful as it's been, engaging with family has been a school for reducing solipsism and increasing my und…
Why am I attracted to all these lying quotes all of a sudden? Here’s another one. This one by Phillip Lopate: ‘(Children know it better than adults) … - Phillip Lopate
Why am I attracted to all these lying quotes all of a sudden? Here’s another one. This one by Phillip Lopate: ‘(Children know it better than adults) …
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