Like most novelists, I like to do exactly the opposite of…
“Like most novelists, I like to do exactly the opposite of what I'm told. It's in my nature as a novelist. Novelists can't trust anything they haven't seen with their own eyes or touched with their own hands. (Jerusalem Prize acceptance speech, JERUSALEM POST, Feb. 15, 2009)”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A novelist must rely on personal experience and observation, rejecting second‑hand authority.
In simple terms: Writers trust only what they see and touch.
Key Takeaway
Seek truth through direct experience.
Themes
creativity
independence
skepticism
Mood
reflective
defiant
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- research trips
- field interviews
Key Concepts
empiricism
authorial voice
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal experience shape your work?
- When should you trust external expertise?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on personal perception may limit broader insight.