The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.
Don DelilloRead
That's why people take vacations. No to relax or find excitement or see new places. To escape the death that exists in routine things.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People take vacations to break free from the monotony of their daily routines, which can feel lifeless.
In this quote, Don DeLillo suggests that the primary motivation behind taking vacations is not merely for relaxation, excitement, or exploration but rather as a means to escape the dullness and predictability that often accompany everyday life. The 'death' in routine signifies how repetitive tasks can drain vitality and lead to a sense of existential numbness, prompting individuals to seek brief respites in new environments or adventures.
Themes
VacationRoutineEscapeMonotonyLifeExcitement
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on work-life balance, one might quote this to emphasize the need for breaks.
More from Don Delillo
All quotes →War is the form nostalgia takes when men are hard-pressed to say something good about their country.
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American writers ought to stand and live in the margins, and be more dangerous.
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For me, writing is a concentrated form of thinking.
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I used to think it was possible for an artist to alter the inner life of the culture. Now bomb-makers and gunmen have taken that territory.
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[I]n the American soul there is a lonely individual standing in a vast landscape. He is either on a horse or driving a car, depending, and either way he’s carrying a gun. This is one of the essential images in American mythology.
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