One good yardstick as to whether a person might be the right one for you is this: in her presence, do you think your noblest thoughts, do you aspire to your finest deeds, do you wish you were better than you are?
Ezra Taft BensonRead
Writers are great lovers. They fall in love with other writers. That's how they learn to write. They take on a writer, read everything by him or her, read it over again until they understand how the writer moves, pauses, and sees. That's what being a lover is: stepping out of yourself, stepping into someone else's skin.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writers deeply connect with each other and learn from their experiences to improve their craft.
This quote highlights the idea that the essence of writing involves a profound connection between writers, akin to love. By immersing themselves in the works of others and striving to understand different perspectives, writers enhance their skills and creativity, mirroring the intimate, empathetic connections found in romantic relationships. This process of 'stepping into someone else's skin' emphasizes the value of empathy and connection in the growth of a writer's artistry.
Themes
WritersLoveLearningEmpathyCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop about writing techniques, a teacher could use this quote to illustrate the importance of studying other writers.
Similar quotes
The will of God, to which the law gives expression, is that men should defeat their enemies by loving them.
Dietrich BonhoefferRead
I could wait patiently, but I really wish you would: Drop everything now, meet me in the pourin' rain, Kiss me on the sidewalk, take away the pain; Cause I see sparks fly whenever you smile Hit me with those green eyes, baby, as the lights go down, Give me somethin' that'll haunt me when you're not around; Cause I see sparks fly whenever you . . . smile.
Taylor SwiftRead
Give! Give the love you have received to those around you. You must love with your time, your hands, and your hearts. You need to share all that you have.
Mother TeresaRead
Praise is well, compliment is well, but affection-that is the last and most precious reward that any man can win, whether by character or achievement.
Mark TwainRead
Perfume heralds a woman’s arrival and prolongs her departure.
Coco ChanelRead