The reporter wrote with the hope that he would get a by-line in the Times, a testimony to his being alive on that day and all the tomorrows of microfilm
Interpretation
This quote reflects the desire for recognition and the impact of one's existence through written words.
In this quote, Gay Talese highlights the profound hope of a reporter, who yearns for acknowledgment through a by-line in the Times. It symbolizes the human need for validation and the importance of leaving a mark on the world, suggesting that writing is not just a profession but a means of asserting oneβs presence and legacy for future generations.
In practice
In a motivational speech about achieving dreams and aspirations.
Better that you should take the chance of trying something that is close to your heart, you think is what you want to write, and if they do not publish it, put it in your drawer. But maybe another day will come and you will find a place to put that.
The most important thing to do is really listen.
The important thing is not whatever nonsense the voices are saying, but what the voices are feeling.
The best tournament players actually try to avoid risky plays altogether. They prefer to wait for their opponents to make the risky moves. They'll wait patiently until they catch a strong hand. When they do, they'll take down their overly aggressive foes.
Please don't retouch my wrinkles. It took me so long to earn them.
Writing about the indignities of old age: the daunting stairway to the restaurant restroom, the benefits of a wheelchair in airports and its disadvantages at cocktail parties, giving the user what he described as a child's-eye view of the party and a crotch-level view of the guests. Dying is a matter of slapstick and pratfalls. The aging process is not gradual or gentle. It rushes up, pushes you over and runs off laughing. No one should grow old who isn't ready to appear ridiculous.
Training the intellect does not result in intelligence. Intelligence comes into being when one acts in perfect harmony, both intellectually and emotionally.
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