I have tried to remove weight, sometimes from people, sometimes from heavenly bodies, sometimes from cities; above all I have tried to remove weight from the structure of stories and from language.
Italo CalvinoRead
My only job is to write in such a way that the reader gets a new handle on humanity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The essence of writing is to provide readers with new insights into the human experience.
In this quote, Thomas Steinbeck emphasizes the transformative power of writing. He believes that through his craft, he can offer readers a fresh perspective on humanity, encouraging them to reflect on their own lives and the lives of others. The act of writing becomes a means of exploration, connection, and understanding of the collective human condition.
Themes
WritingHumanityInsightPerspectiveReader
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on creative writing, I used this quote to inspire participants to find depth in their narratives.
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