Crude thoughts and fierce forces are my state. I do not know who I am. Nor what I was. I cannot hear a sound. Pain is near that will be like no pain felt before.
Norman MailerRead
I no longer gave a sick dog's drop for the wisdom, the reliability and the authority of the public's literary mind, those creeps and old ladies of vested reviewing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses skepticism towards public opinion and literary criticism.
Norman Mailer conveys a strong disdain for the authority and judgment of literary critics and the general public's taste in literature. He views them as uninformed and untrustworthy, suggesting that he values personal insight and artistry over popular or established opinions.
Themes
Public OpinionLiterary CriticismSkepticismIntellectArtistry
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the value of artistic expression versus popular opinion, this quote could be used to emphasize the importance of individual judgment.
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