Writing for children is bloody difficult; books for children are as complex as their adult counterparts, and they should therefore be accorded the same respect.
Mark HaddonRead
And I know I can do this because I went to London on my own, and because I solved the mystery…and I was brave and I wrote a book and that means I can do anything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the belief in one's abilities and the power of personal experiences to inspire confidence.
In this quote, Mark Haddon reflects on the transformative experiences that have built his confidence and self-efficacy. By recounting his adventures and accomplishments, he illustrates that overcoming challenges and pursuing one's passions can lead to a strong belief in one's capabilities. His assertion that he can achieve anything underscores the importance of bravery and personal growth in realizing one's potential.
Themes
ConfidenceBraveryAchievementSelf-BeliefSelf-Efficacy
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech to high school students about pursuing their dreams.
More from Mark Haddon
All quotes →As to the number of novels I've abandoned... I shudder to think. I have thrown away five completed novels, and that's a gruesome enough figure. But not necessarily a waste of effort.
Mark HaddonRead
At twenty life was like wrestling an octopus. Every moment mattered. At thirty it was a walk in the country. Most of the time your mind was somewhere else. By the time you got to seventy, it was probably like watching snooker on the telly.
Mark HaddonRead
And Father said, "Christopher, do you understand that I love you?" And I said "Yes," because loving someone is helping them when they get into trouble, and looking after them, and telling them the truth, and Father looks after me when I get into trouble, like coming to the police station, and he looks after me by cooking meals for me, and he always tells me the truth, which means that he loves me.
Mark HaddonRead
From a good book, I want to be taken to the very edge. I want a glimpse into that outer darkness.
Mark HaddonRead
At 20, 25, 30, we begin to realise that the possibilities of escape are getting fewer. We have jobs, children, partners, debts. This is the part of us to which literary fiction speaks.
Mark HaddonRead
Similar quotes
In life, winning and losing will both happen. What is never acceptable is quitting.
Magic JohnsonRead
I just love it when people say I can't do something. There's nothing that makes me feel better, because all my life people have said I wasn't going to make it.
Ted TurnerRead
You start at a young age, going on auditions, and you think you did a good job and expect to get that role, and you don't, and it's a letdown, a disappointment. So you tell yourself to just do the work and disconnect, because you have no control over the outcome.
Michael B. JordanRead
If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status quo. I want to help people, to work with institutions or create ones when they don't exist.
Eli BroadRead
A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.
Hunter S. ThompsonRead
As a tennis player you have to get used to losing every week. Unless you win the tournament, you always go home as a loser. But you have to take the positive out of a defeat and go back to work. Improve to fail better.
Stan WawrinkaRead