The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.
Don DelilloRead
When I work, I'm just translating the world around me in what seems to be straightforward terms. For my readers, this is sometimes a vision that's not familiar. But I'm not trying to manipulate reality. This is just what I see and hear.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects an artist's genuine interpretation of the world without distortion.
Don Delillo expresses the idea that his work is a translation of the reality he perceives, meant to communicate his vision to readers who may not share the same perspective. He emphasizes that his intention is not to alter or manipulate reality, but rather to present his unique view through straightforward language, which may challenge the familiar conceptions of his audience.
Themes
ArtInterpretationRealityPerceptionCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about creative writing, this quote can illustrate how personal perception shapes artistic expression.
More from Don Delillo
All quotes βWar is the form nostalgia takes when men are hard-pressed to say something good about their country.
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American writers ought to stand and live in the margins, and be more dangerous.
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For me, writing is a concentrated form of thinking.
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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.
Don DelilloRead
[I]n the American soul there is a lonely individual standing in a vast landscape. β¨He is either on a horse or driving a car, depending, and either way heβs carrying a gun. β¨This is one of the essential images in American mythology.
Don DelilloRead
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