[her] mind blackens. The blackness is not a thought, but if it could be pressed into a thought, if a chemical from a dropper could be dripped onto it causing its color and essence to become visible, it would take the shape of this sentence: Why does no one want me?
Interpretation
The quote reflects feelings of isolation and the struggle to understand one's worth.
In this quote, Steve Martin articulates the deep emotional turmoil of feeling unwanted and invisible. The imagery of a mind blackening conveys a sense of despair, suggesting that this sadness is beyond mere thought; it is a visceral experience. When pressed to express this feeling, the essence manifests in the poignant question of rejection and longing for acceptance that many experience at some point in their lives.
In practice
During a motivational speech about overcoming loneliness.
When I first started doing my comedy act, I just desperately needed material. So I took literally everything I knew how to do on stage with me, which was juggling, magic and banjo and my little comedy routines. I always felt the audience sorta tolerated the serious musical parts while I was doing my comedy.
You want to be a bit compulsive in your art or craft or whatever you do.
I have heard it said that a complicated childhood can lead to a life in the arts. I tell you this story of my father and me to let you know I am qualified to be a comedian.
...it is not the big events that hurt the most but rather the smallest questionable shift in tone at the end of a spoken word that can plow most deeply into the heart.
Reviews for someone like me come in three packages. One is justifiable praise, the second is justifiable criticism, and the third is, "This is only published because he's a celebrity."
If he thinks he would harm Mirabelle, he would back away. But he does not yet understand when and how people are hurt. He doesn't understand the subtleties of slights and pains, that it is not the big events that hurt the most but rather the smallest questionable shift in tone at the end of a spoken word that can plow most deeply into the heart.
The trick to my writing, it turned out, was doing so exclusively in bed. The minute I even dared to discipline myself and write at the desk, I produced mounds of nonsense. Yet, sitting in bed, I wrote easily, effortlessly, fluidly. I became the master of perfect indiscipline.
Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.
I hope that memory is valued - that we do not lose memory.
Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good.
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted in important affairs.
You see, I get such fun out of thinking that I don't want to destroy this most pleasant machine that makes life such a big kick.
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