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.
James A. MichenerRead
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
DreamsRealityTemptationDefeatLife
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech, to inspire students to chase their dreams despite challenges.
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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.
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If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
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I was brought up in the great tradition of the late nineteenth century: that a writer never complains, never explains and never disdains.
James A. MichenerRead
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