Book Quote by Dorothy Parker
“I'll think about something else. I'll just sit quietly. If I could sit still. If I could sit still, maybe I could read. Oh, all the books are about people who love each other, truly and sweetly. What do they want to write about that for? Don't they know it isn't true? Don't they know it's a lie, it's a God-damned lie? What do they have to tell about that for, when they know how it hurts?”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Collected Poems, 1935
The speaker laments the emptiness of romantic narratives, yearning for authentic truth over comforting lies.
In simple terms: She wishes for honest stories, not false romance.
Key Takeaway
Seek truth, reject comforting falsehoods.
Themes
truth
romance
disillusionment
authenticity
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading
- writing
- personal reflection
- creative work
Key Concepts
existentialism
literary criticism
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What truth do you avoid?
- How do comforting lies affect you?
A Different Perspective
Romantic idealism can obscure real pain and complexity.
