It’s a very difficult era in which to be a person, just a real, actual person, instead of a collection of personality traits selected from an endless Automat of characters.
Gillian FlynnRead
I find, the older I get, the more surprised I am about how hesitant people are to say what they really want, what they really dream about, what really drives them. It's as if sometimes we're sort of embarrassed, as we get older, to be transparent about that. But you save so much time if you're transparent about what you want.
Interpretation
What this quote means
As people grow older, they often become hesitant to express their true desires and dreams, but being transparent about them can save time and lead to fulfillment.
In this quote, Gillian Flynn reflects on the tendency of individuals to hold back their true aspirations and emotions as they age. The fear of vulnerability and the societal pressure to conform can inhibit open expression of one's desires and dreams. Flynn emphasizes the importance of being transparent and honest about what one wants, suggesting that this openness not only fosters authenticity but also expedites the journey toward achieving one's goals and living a fulfilling life.
Themes
TransparencyDreamsAspirationsHonestyAuthenticityVulnerability
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing one's dreams.
More from Gillian Flynn
All quotes →Sometimes I think illness sits inside every woman, waiting for the right moment to bloom. I have known so many sick women all my life. Women with chronic pain, with ever-gestating diseases. Women with conditions. Men, sure, they have bone snaps, they have backaches, they have a surgery or two, yank out a tonsil, insert a shiny plastic hip. Women get consumed.
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I was not a lovable child, and I'd grown into a deeply unlovable adult. Draw a picture of my soul, and it'd be a scribble with fangs.
Gillian FlynnRead
One of my biggest peeves is when the writer hasn't given you enough information to figure everything out. You should be able to go back to the beginning of 'Gone Girl,' after you've already read it and you know everything, and say, 'Check - check - yes, she gave us that information.'
Gillian FlynnRead
I often don't say things out loud, even when I should. I contain and compartmentalize to a disturbing degree: In my belly-basement are hundreds of bottles of rage, despair, fear, but you'd never guess from looking at me.
Gillian FlynnRead
Because I'm a woman writing about women who do bad things, that's somehow very 'other.' When men write that, it's called a novel. It's just a book.
Gillian FlynnRead
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