I have never thought of myself as a good writer. Anyone who wants reassurance of that should read one of my first drafts. But I'm one of the world's great rewriters.
The permanent temptation of life is to confuse dreams with reality. The permanent defeat of life comes when dreams are surrendered to reality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life often tempts us to blur the lines between our dreams and reality, leading to disillusionment when we abandon our aspirations.
James A. Michener's quote reflects on the intrinsic struggle individuals face between their aspirations and the mundane realities of daily life. The temptation to confuse dreams with reality signifies a common human experience where one might settle for what is 'real' at the expense of their ambitions. The quote warns of the profound loss that occurs when dreams are surrendered, suggesting that the defeat we face in life often stems from allowing our practical existence to overshadow our visionary hopes.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech, to inspire students to chase their dreams despite challenges.
More from James A. Michener
All quotes βWhenever I start a book, I swear it's going to be a short one. But then it's, 'Who was his grandfather? And how did he get there in the first place? And what kind of animals is he chasing?'
Rampaging horsemen can conquer; only the city can civilize.
I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody else does is of no concern whatever except as an interesting variation.
If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
I was brought up in the great tradition of the late nineteenth century: that a writer never complains, never explains and never disdains.
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The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between.
To encounter Christ is to touch reality and experience transcendence. He gives us a sense of self-worth or personal significance, because He assures us of God's love for us. He sets us free from guilt because He died for us and from paralyzing fear because He reigns. He gives meaning to marriage and home, work and leisure, personhood and citizenship.