When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters.
Stephen CraneRead
It perhaps might be said--if any one dared--that the most worthless literature of the world has been that which has been written by the men of one nation concerning the men of another.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Crane critiques how literature often misrepresents other nations and cultures.
In this quote, Stephen Crane reflects on the idea that literature created by individuals about other nations can often lack authenticity and value, suggesting that such works fail to genuinely convey the realities of those outside one's own cultural experience. He implies that understanding and representing another culture requires more than mere observation; it necessitates a deeper engagement that is often absent in cross-national literary works, leading to misinterpretations and a devaluation of both the subject and the writer.
Themes
LiteratureCultureMisrepresentationUnderstandingAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion about cross-cultural representation, this quote could highlight the importance of authentic voices.
More from Stephen Crane
All quotes βI saw a man pursuing the horizon
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Two or three angels Came near to the earth. They saw a fat church. Little black streams of people Came and went in continually. And the angels were puzzled To know why the people went thus, And why they stayed so long within.
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Sometimes, the most profound of awakenings come wrapped in the quietest of moments.
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Tell her this And more,β That the king of the seas Weeps too, old, helpless man. The bustling fates Heap his hands with corpses Until he stands like a child With surplus of toys.
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Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds.
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