[T]he young man or woman writing today has forgotten the…
![“[T]he young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat. He must learn them again. He must teach himself that the basest of all things is…” quote by William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/5e6/william-faulkner-306_compassion_t-he-young-man-or-woman-writing-today-ha_1217428.jpg)
““[T]he young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat. He must learn them again. He must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid; and, teaching himself that, forget it forever, leaving no room in his workshop for anything but the old verities and truths of the heart, the old universal truths lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed - love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice. Until he does so, he labors under a curse. He writes not of love but of lust, of defeats in which nobody loses anything of value, of victories without hope and, worst of all, without pity or compassion. His griefs grieve on no universal bones, leaving no scars. He writes not of the heart but of the glands.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage stresses that authentic writing must stem from deep personal conflict and universal human emotions, warning against superficial themes.
In simple terms: Good writing comes from inner struggle and timeless human feelings.
Key Takeaway
Write from genuine emotional conflict.
Themes
writing
authenticity
human nature
literature
creativity
Mood
reflective
inspirational
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- creative workshops
- personal reflection
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
artistic integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal conflicts inspire your writing?
- Can stories be powerful without deep personal pain?
A Different Perspective
The view may idealize suffering as necessary for art, ignoring diverse creative processes.