The concept of progress must be grounded in the idea of catastrophe. That things are 'status quo' is the catastrophe
Roscoe was spiritually illegal, a bootlegger of the soul, a mythic creature made of words and wit and wild deeds and boundless memory.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote speaks to the unique and often rebellious nature of a person's spirit and creativity.
William Kennedy's quote describes a character named Roscoe, portraying him as a vibrant and unconventional individual who transcends conventional norms. The phrase 'spiritually illegal' suggests that his essence and impulses challenge societal boundaries, while 'bootlegger of the soul' implies he illicitly nurtures and shares deep, meaningful experiences. This expression highlights the richness of personality and creativity, celebrating those who boldly embrace their individuality despite societal expectations.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared during a creative writing workshop to inspire participants to embrace their unique voice.
Similar quotes
Yes, all fundamentalists feel that in a secular society, God has been relegated to the margin, to the periphery and they are all in different ways seeking to drag him out of that peripheral position, back to center stage.
Let us not forget that the reasons for human actions are usually incalculably more complex and diverse than we tend to explain them later, and are seldom clearly manifest.
Do you remember you shot a seagull? A man came by chance, saw it and destroyed it, just to pass the time.
Baseball, like Pericles' Athens (or any other good society), is simultaneously democratic and aristrocratic. Anyone can enjoy it, but the more you apply yourself, the more you enjoy it.
That freedom can never be attained by a nation without suffering and sacrifice has been amply borne out by the recent tragic happenings in this subcontinent.