To me, there is nothing higher than fiction. Nothing. It is fundamentally who I am. I am a teller of stories. For me, that's the only way I can make sense of the world, with all the dance that it involves.
Arundhati RoyRead
When she looked at him now, she couldn't help thinking that the man he had become bore so little resemblance to the boy he had been. His smile was the only piece of baggage he had carried with him from boyhood into manhood.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on how a person can change significantly over time, with only a small part of their childhood remaining.
Arundhati Roy's quote illustrates the profound transformation that individuals undergo as they transition from youth to adulthood. It highlights the contrast between the innocence and simplicity of childhood and the complexities of adult life, suggesting that while we may evolve in many ways, certain innate qualities, like a genuine smile, can persist and serve as a connection to our earlier selves.
Themes
TransformationChildhoodAdulthoodSmileChange
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech, one might quote this to emphasize the journey of growth.
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To call someone 'anti-American', indeed, to be anti-American, is not just racist, it's a failure of the imagination.
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