The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.
Don DelilloRead
I embarked on my life - I didn't do anything. I don't have an explanation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the complexity of existence and the often inexplicable nature of our choices in life.
In this quote, Don Delillo expresses the notion that life is more about the journey and our experiences than about having a clear or rational explanation for our actions or decisions. It suggests that simply living and embracing life is an act in itself, regardless of whether one understands the reasoning behind it. This can invoke a sense of humility in the face of life's intricacies and unpredictability.
Themes
LifeExistenceChoicesJourneyUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a philosophical discussion about the meaning of life.
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All quotes →War 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.
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[I]n the American soul there is a lonely individual standing in a vast landscape. He is either on a horse or driving a car, depending, and either way he’s carrying a gun. This is one of the essential images in American mythology.
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