When I learnt to write I became my own master, I became very strong, and that strength is with me to this very day.
V. S. NaipaulRead
We cannot understand all the traits we have inherited. Sometimes we can be strangers to ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the complexities of self-identity and inheritance of traits.
V. S. Naipaul's quote suggests that our understanding of ourselves is often limited by the traits we inherit, whether they come from our ancestry, culture, or personal experiences. It emphasizes the idea that we may not fully comprehend the motivations, characteristics, or behaviors that define us, leading to a feeling of estrangement from our own identities. This can provoke introspection about the nature of self-discovery and the factors that shape who we are.
Themes
InheritanceIdentitySelf-DiscoveryTraitsSelf-Reflection
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about personal growth at a workshop.
More from V. S. Naipaul
All quotes βIt is wrong to have an ideal view of the world. That's where the mischief starts. That's where everything starts unravelling.
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If you decide to move to another country and to live within its laws you don't express your disregard for the essence of the culture. It's a form of aggression.
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One must always try to see the truth of a situation - it makes things universal.
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His ignorance seemed to widen with everything he read.
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I think when you see so many Hindu temples of the 10th century or earlier disfigured, defaced, you realise that something terrible happened. I feel the civilisation of that closed world was mortally wounded by those invasions the old world is destroyed. That has to be understood. Ancient Hindu India was destroyed.
V. S. NaipaulRead
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