Books Quote by Anonymous
““The writer, without softening his vision, is obliged to capture or conjure readers. And this means any kind of reader. It means whatever is there. I used to think that it should be possible to write for some supposed elite, for the people who attend the universities and sometimes know how to read, but I have since found that though you may publish your stories in the Yale Review, if they are any good at all you are eventually going to get a letter from some old lady in California, or some inmate of the Federal Penitentiary, or the state in sane asylum, or the local poorhouse, telling you where you have failed to meet his needs. And his need of course is to be lifted up. There is something in us as story-tellers, and as listeners to stories, that demands the redemptive act, that demands that what falls at least be offered the chance of restoration. The reader of today looks for this motion, and rightly so, but he has forgotten the cost of it. His sense of evil is deluded or lacking altogether, and so he has forgotten the price of restoration. He has forgotten the price of truth, even in fiction.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on Audience and Truth, 2020
Writers must aim to uplift all readers, acknowledging the cost of restoration and truth.
In simple terms: Writers should serve all readers, not just elites.
Write for empathy and truth.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- publishing
- education
- community outreach
- mental health advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers stay authentic while being inclusive?
- What responsibilities do creators have to diverse audiences?
Balancing artistic vision with broad appeal can dilute depth.