Most writers tend to get worse rather than better. I'm determined to be one that gets better.
Edmund WhiteRead
It's true that Paris is made up of equal parts of social conservatism and anarchic experimentation, but foreigners never quite know where to place the moral accent mark.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Paris embodies a tension between tradition and innovation, often leaving outsiders confused about its moral values.
Edmund White highlights the complex identity of Paris as a city that simultaneously respects its social traditions and embraces a spirit of rebellion and creativity. This duality creates a unique cultural landscape that may perplex foreigners trying to understand the ethical implications of Parisian life, suggesting that morality can be subjective and context-dependent.
Themes
ParisTraditionInnovationMoralityCulture
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a discussion on the complexities of cultural identity in a globalized world.
More from Edmund White
All quotes βI've always seen writing as a way of telling the truth. For me, writing is about truth. I have always tried to be faithful to my own experience.
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In a memoir, your main contract with the reader is to tell the truth, no matter how bizarre.
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If bigots oppose gay marriage so vehemently, it must be because marriage is a defining institution for them; gays will never be fully accepted until they can marry and adopt, like anyone else.
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When we are young... we often experience things in the present with a nostalgia-in-advance, but we seldom guess what we will truly prize years from now.
Edmund WhiteRead
I was never an assimilationist. I always thought gays had some special mission.
Edmund WhiteRead
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