The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.
Don DelilloRead
True terror is a language and a vision. There is a deep narrative structure to terrorist acts, and they infiltrate and alter consciousness in ways that writers used to aspire to.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Terrorism has a profound and intricate narrative that affects people's perceptions and consciousness.
Don Delillo's quote suggests that terrorism is not merely a series of violent acts but a complex narrative that resonates deeply with human consciousness. It implies that these acts communicate ideas and emotions in a powerful way that even literature strives to achieve, highlighting how they can reshape our collective understanding of the world.
Themes
TerrorismNarrativeConsciousnessLanguageViolence
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about how narratives shape societal views on terrorism.
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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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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