Point of view Quote by Anne Carson
““What is a quote? A quote (cognate with quota) is a cut, a section, a slice of someone else’s orange. You suck the slice, toss the rind, skate away. Part of what you enjoy in a documentary technique is the sense of banditry. To loot someone else’s life or sentences and make off with a point of view, which is called “objective” because you can make anything into an object by treating it this way, is exciting and dangerous.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Discussing quotation in literature, 2015
Quotes are appropriated fragments that become objects, offering both insight and risk of distortion.
In simple terms: Taking parts of others’ words turns them into tools, but can mislead.
Key Takeaway
Use quotes responsibly, aware of their power.
Themes
literature
ethics
authorship
interpretation
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- journalism
- creative nonfiction
- media analysis
Key Concepts
appropriation
objectification
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- What responsibilities come with quoting others?
- How can you ensure fidelity to original intent?
A Different Perspective
Quotes can be taken out of context, altering meaning.
![“[The Dalai Lama] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could, and still things get worse in Tibet." If you look at it from one point of view, as he himself says, his monastic position of forbearance and nonviolence hasn't reaped any…” quote by Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9fe/pico-iyer-1252_benefits_the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i_678.jpg)
