Accidents Quote by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
“In fact I don't think of literature, or music, or any art form as having a nationality. Where you're born is simply an accident of fate. I don't see why I shouldn't be more interested in say, Dickens, than in an author from Barcelona simply because I wasn't born in the UK. I do not have an ethno-centric view of things, much less of literature. Books hold no passports. There's only one true literary tradition: the human.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public talk, 2013, Spain
Literature and art transcend national borders; value is based on humanity, not birthplace.
In simple terms: Art belongs to humanity, not nations.
Key Takeaway
Embrace global perspectives in culture.
Themes
culture
humanism
globalism
Mood
thoughtful
inclusive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- reading diverse authors
- teaching world literature
- curating multicultural exhibitions
Key Concepts
nationalism
ethnocentrism
literary tradition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your background shape your interpretation of global literature?
- What benefits arise from reading beyond one’s own culture?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the influence of cultural context on artistic expression.
![“An important Italian critic once gave Fistful of Dollars a very bad review when it came out. Then he went to the university here [Rome] with Once Upon a Time in America. We showed it to 10,000 students. And while the man was speaking that day to the students, with me present, he said, "I have to…” quote by Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd6/sergio-leone-7185_accounts_an-important-italian-critic-once-gave-fi_1064129.jpg)
