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I wouldn't write about people who are living and who are…

“I wouldn't write about people who are living and who are close to me, because I think it's a very violent thing to do to another person. And anytime I have done it, even in the disguise of fiction, the results have been horrific.” quote by Zadie Smith
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“I wouldn't write about people who are living and who are close to me, because I think it's a very violent thing to do to another person. And anytime I have done it, even in the disguise of fiction, the results have been horrific.”

Zadie Smith

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writing about close people feels violent; even fictional disguises cause harm.

In simple terms: Writing about loved ones can be harmful.

Key Takeaway

Consider ethical boundaries before portraying real people.

Themes

ethics writing violence

Mood

reflective serious

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • fiction writing
  • journalism
  • personal memoirs

Key Concepts

privacy empathy creative responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

  • When is it okay to write about someone you know?
  • How do you balance truth and harm?
A Different Perspective

Strict self‑censorship may limit artistic honesty.

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