What one means by integrity, in the case of the novelist…
![“What one means by integrity, in the case of the novelist, is the conviction that he gives one that this is the truth. . . . When one so exposes it [integrity] and sees it come to life one exclaims in rapture, But this is what I have always felt and known and desired! And one boils over with…” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/1c4/virginia-woolf-49_authors_what-one-means-by-integrity-in-the-case_1159124.jpg)
““What one means by integrity, in the case of the novelist, is the conviction that he gives one that this is the truth. . . . When one so exposes it [integrity] and sees it come to life one exclaims in rapture, But this is what I have always felt and known and desired! And one boils over with excitement, and, shutting the book even with a kind of reverence as if it were something very precious, a stand-by to return to as long as one lives, one puts it back on the shelf.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
For a novelist, integrity means presenting truth; when readers encounter this truth, they feel ecstatic and reverent, returning to the work repeatedly.
In simple terms: Integrity is truth in writing that excites readers.
Key Takeaway
Write truthfully to inspire devotion.
Themes
literature
integrity
truth
reader response
Mood
contemplative
inspired
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- creative writing
- teaching literature
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
artistic honesty
emotional resonance
reverence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does an author’s honesty affect your engagement?
- What truths in stories move you deeply?
A Different Perspective
Readers may not connect if truth feels forced or inaccessible.