--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a great paradox and a great…" description: "\"It is a great paradox and a great injustice that writers write because we fear death and want to leave something indestructible in our wake and, at the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/ariel-gore-16108_burritos_it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injust_2375588.jpg" --- # It is a great paradox and a great injustice that writers… ![“It is a great paradox and a great injustice that writers write because we fear death and want to leave something indestructible in our wake and, at the same time, are drawn to all the things that kill: whiskey and cigarettes, unprotected sex, and deep-fried burritos.” quote by Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/ariel-gore-16108_burritos_it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injust_2375588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/ariel-gore-16108_burritos_it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injust_2375588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/ariel-gore-16108_burritos_it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injust_2375588.jpg) > “It is a great paradox and a great injustice that writers write because we fear death and want to leave something indestructible in our wake and, at the same time, are drawn to all the things that kill: whiskey and cigarettes, unprotected sex, and deep-fried burritos.” [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers are drawn to self‑destructive habits while seeking lasting legacy, revealing a paradox of creation and self‑sabotage. **In simple terms:** Writers want lasting work but indulge risky habits. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance creative drive with healthy choices. Themes creativity paradox self‑destruction Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing process - stress coping - habit formation - artistic inspiration Key Concepts existentialism literary theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do creators gravitate toward risky behaviors? - Can lasting art be made without self‑harm? A Different Perspective The paradox can glorify harmful behavior, ignoring healthier alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burritos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burritos/) [Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-want-1084356/) [Fear Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-death-249352/) [Fear of death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-death/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Things Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-kill-274389/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Whiskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiskey/) [Write Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-fear-657808/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-write-254639/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“It's a great paradox and a great injustice that writers write because we fear death and want to leave something indestructable in our wake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/it-s-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injustice-that-writers-write-because/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [“That someone would mourn her death made her want to live in the fiercest way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-burke-2/that-someone-would-mourn-her-death-made-her-want-to-live-in-the/) [H. L. Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-burke-2/) > [Dear God, I dont want a sudden death, I want to die slowly, slowly with pain, beacuse they say In the end this life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/dear-god-i-dont-want-a-sudden-death-i-want-to-die-slowly-slowly-with/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [“When I stand before myself in death, I want to look at myself only and know I fell in love with every detail I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-riccitello/when-i-stand-before-myself-in-death-i-want-to-look-at-myself-only-and/) [Dominic Riccitello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-riccitello/) > [Death is not something any one of us want to dwell on, but we must all confront it at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-giddings/death-is-not-something-any-one-of-us-want-to-dwell-on-but-we-must-all/) [Lara Giddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-giddings/) > [If I was dead, I wouldn't know I was dead. That's the only thing I have against death. I want to enjoy my death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/if-i-was-dead-i-wouldn-t-know-i-was-dead-that-s-the-only-thing-i-have/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [I am not afraid of death, but would not want to die in some obscure or pointless way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-eberhardt/i-am-not-afraid-of-death-but-would-not-want-to-die-in-some-obscure-or/) [Isabelle Eberhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-eberhardt/) > [The house you live your life in any twenty-four hours after death, you do not want to stop, are so strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-house-you-live-your-life-in-any-twenty-four-hours-after-death-you/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [“You’re right about something else,” he said, his voice ragged. “I’m scared to death of you. Because I want you, when common sense and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/you-re-right-about-something-else-he-said-his-voice-ragged-i-m-scared/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) > [“And where does that minute go, that minute that separates life from death? I want those sixty seconds back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-rodrigues/and-where-does-that-minute-go-that-minute-that-separates-life-from/) [Carmen Rodrigues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-rodrigues/) > [Not one has shown an iota of fear of death. They want to end this agony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/not-one-has-shown-an-iota-of-fear-of-death-they-want-to-end-this-agony/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [I mean, it is the perfect situation to really love someone to death and to want to rip their clothes off at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-michael/i-mean-it-is-the-perfect-situation-to-really-love-someone-to-death/) [George Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-michael/) > [“You can 'if' yourself to death - if you want - but I'd advise against it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-mcbride/you-can-if-yourself-to-death-if-you-want-but-i-d-advise-against-it/) [Kristina McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-mcbride/) > [If I were to die a slow death, I'd want music to be the cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-were-to-die-a-slow-death-i-d-want-music-to-be-the-cause/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't send a man to his death because you want a hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/you-don-t-send-a-man-to-his-death-because-you-want-a-hero/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) ## More by Ariel Gore > [“When we strike a balance between the challenge of an activity and our skill at performing it, when the rhythm of the work itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/when-we-strike-a-balance-between-the-challenge-of-an-activity-and-our/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [When you study postpartum depression, there is a very clear understanding that in communities where you see more support, there is less depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/when-you-study-postpartum-depression-there-is-a-very-clear/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [I don't know if my mother was a narcissist - or bi-polar or borderline. Those were words she tossed around over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-don-t-know-if-my-mother-was-a-narcissist-or-bi-polar-or-borderline/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [“No one ever does the last thing on their list.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/no-one-ever-does-the-last-thing-on-their-list/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a divorce if the marriage itself was a war zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only-be-happier-after-a-divorce-if/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [My own habit had always been to write about the things that ticked me off in a given day. If I kept a journal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/my-own-habit-had-always-been-to-write-about-the-things-that-ticked-me/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [I think there are different kinds of happiness. We know when we're happy a lot of the time, but then there are those moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-think-there-are-different-kinds-of-happiness-we-know-when-we-re/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [Some caregivers want to reciprocate the care they themselves received as children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/some-caregivers-want-to-reciprocate-the-care-they-themselves-received/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [“I wanted to be a writer, so I became one. How? I wrote things down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-so-i-became-one-how-i-wrote-things-down/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [ “Poet' had always sounded like a profession to me, or a talent. But the dead American \[Muriel Rukeyser, The Life of Poetry\] made it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/poet-had-always-sounded-like-a-profession-to-me-or-a-talent-but-the/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [In my experience, staying in a marriage that my ex and I both agreed had all its best moments behind it was epically depressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/in-my-experience-staying-in-a-marriage-that-my-ex-and-i-both-agreed/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/i-always-do-like-seeing-other-people-dance-in-their-cars-it-s-one-of/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [Maybe it goes without saying that if you want to become a famous writer before you’re dead, you’ll have to write something. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/maybe-it-goes-without-saying-that-if-you-want-to-become-a-famous/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [Your heart is the size of your fist; keep loving, keep fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/your-heart-is-the-size-of-your-fist-keep-loving-keep-fighting/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [New Agers have always told us that we create our own realities. Mind over matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/new-agers-have-always-told-us-that-we-create-our-own-realities-mind/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) [Explore all 41 Ariel Gore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) ## More Burritos quotes > [Even if I'm gone all day, breakfast is the one meal I always cook for my kids. I make French toast, oatmeal, or an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/even-if-i-m-gone-all-day-breakfast-is-the-one-meal-i-always-cook-for/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [I really only eat burritos in Tijuana from street corners that come out of coolers from businesses with no name, telephone or website.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-really-only-eat-burritos-in-tijuana-from-street-corners-that-come/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) > [In my 20s, I mostly ate burritos and nachos, with the occasional burger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/in-my-20s-i-mostly-ate-burritos-and-nachos-with-the-occasional-burger/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I like burritos more than Jesus because steak burritos are delicious. And they're real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-like-burritos-more-than-jesus-because-steak-burritos-are-delicious/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [My job is to show people that true Mexican cheese is not neon yellow cheese. We don't eat tacos all day long and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/my-job-is-to-show-people-that-true-mexican-cheese-is-not-neon-yellow/) [Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/) > [And an inky-colored despair of rejection enveloped me like the black tortilla of depression around a pain burrito.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/and-an-inky-colored-despair-of-rejection-enveloped-me-like-the-black/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [A burrito is a delicious food item that breaks down all social barriers and leads to temporary spiritual enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisi-harrison/a-burrito-is-a-delicious-food-item-that-breaks-down-all-social/) [Lisi Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisi-harrison/) > [Maia pulled on a braid. "I ran into Eric of all people. He told me what happened and that you'd backed out of Millenium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maia-pulled-on-a-braid-i-ran-into-eric-of-all-people-he-told-me-what/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I've always loved burritos, and I've always loved breakfast, and when I learned that some smart person had combined the two, it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-forte/i-ve-always-loved-burritos-and-i-ve-always-loved-breakfast-and-when-i/) [Will Forte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-forte/) > [They wrapped her up like a baby burrito to show to Mom. Here were a mother and her daughter and I love them both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/they-wrapped-her-up-like-a-baby-burrito-to-show-to-mom-here-were-a/) [Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/) > [Everybody drinks," she said calmly. The Only Rational One. "Your sister doesn't." When rolled her eyes. "Forgive me, but I'm not going to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/everybody-drinks-she-said-calmly-the-only-rational-one-your-sister/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [My weekend treat is Mexican food, definitely. I love nachos and burritos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-roberts/my-weekend-treat-is-mexican-food-definitely-i-love-nachos-and-burritos/) [Ashley Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-roberts/) > [I grew up eating street tacos and burritos on the beach, so I like people who can eat and aren't afraid to show it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/i-grew-up-eating-street-tacos-and-burritos-on-the-beach-so-i-like/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [I played guitar. I've always considered myself an actor, but I wasn't making a living as an actor. So I was in a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-played-guitar-i-ve-always-considered-myself-an-actor-but-i-wasn-t/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [We're not best in the world at burritos and tacos. What we're best in the world at is building a people culture, sourcing really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-re-not-best-in-the-world-at-burritos-and-tacos-what-we-re-best-in/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) [Browse all 41 Burritos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burritos/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is a great paradox and a great injustice that writers write because we fear death and want to leave something indestructible in our wake and, at the same time, are drawn to all the things that kill: whiskey and cigarettes, unprotected sex, and deep-fried burritos.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ariel Gore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injustice-that-writers-write/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Burritos" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injustice-that-writers-write/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/ariel-gore-16108_burritos_it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injust_2375588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/ariel-gore-16108_burritos_it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injust_2375588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/ariel-gore-16108_burritos_it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injust_2375588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a great paradox and a great injustice that writers write because we fear death and want to leave…” — Ariel Gore", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ariel Gore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a great paradox and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injustice-that-writers-write/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/it-is-a-great-paradox-and-a-great-injustice-that-writers-write/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```