It's not enough to just be yourself. You must be your best self
Neil StraussRead
One of the reasons I became a writer is that, unlike starting a band, directing movies, or acting in a theatrical production, you can do it alone. Your success and failure depend entirely on yourself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing is a solitary pursuit where one's success relies entirely on personal effort.
Neil Strauss emphasizes the independence of a writer compared to other artistic fields that often require collaboration. The quote reflects the belief that in writing, an individual's determination and creativity directly dictate their achievements or shortcomings, highlighting the empowerment and accountability that comes with the solitary act of writing.
Themes
WritingSuccessIndependenceCreativityAccountability
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal growth, one might say, 'As Neil Strauss observed, writing allows one to find success through self-reliance.'
More from Neil Strauss
All quotes →To me, I think it's awesome to meet your heroes and find out who they are and where they came from and what made them choose to communicate in the form that connected with you.
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In life, people tend to wait for good things to come to them. And by waiting, they miss out. Usually, what you wish for doesn't fall in your lap; it falls somewhere nearby, and you have to recognize it, stand up, and put in the time and work it takes to get to it. This isn't because the universe is cruel. It's because the universe is smart. It has its own cat-string theory and knows we don't appreciate things that fall into our laps.
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There are certain bad habits we've groomed our whole life -- from personality flaws to fashion faux pas. And it has been the role of parents and friends, outside of some minor tweaking, to reinforce the belief that we're okay just as we are. But it's not enough to just be yourself. You have to be your best self. And that's a tall order if you haven't found your best self yet.
Neil StraussRead
In fact, every woman I met seemed disposable and replaceable. I was experiencing seducer's paradox: The better a seducer I became, the less I loved women. Success was no longer defined by getting laid or finding a girlfriend, but by how well I performed.
Neil StraussRead
A lot of guys are very intimidated by an attractive woman, and they dehumanise her because our culture perceives beautiful women as commodities. But I think if you're able walk up to a person and get to know them, and you see their flaws and their impurities, and realise that they're like you, then you can humanise them again.
Neil StraussRead
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