Actors Quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald
![“There’s a writer for you,” he said. “Knows everything and at the same time he knows nothing.” [narrator]It was my first inkling that he was a writer. And while I like writers—because if you ask a writer anything you usually get an answer—still it belittled him in my eyes. Writers aren’t people…” quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/38d/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_actors_there-s-a-writer-for-you-he-said-knows-e_438126.jpg)
“There’s a writer for you,” he said. “Knows everything and at the same time he knows nothing.” [narrator]It was my first inkling that he was a writer. And while I like writers—because if you ask a writer anything you usually get an answer—still it belittled him in my eyes. Writers aren’t people exactly. Or, if they’re any good, they’re a whole lot of people trying so hard to be one person. It’s like actors, who try so pathetically not to look in mirrors. Who lean backward trying—only to see their faces in the reflecting chandeliers.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
A writer is portrayed as paradoxically omniscient and clueless, highlighting the complexity of creative identity.
In simple terms: Writers seem both all‑knowing and ignorant.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the nuanced nature of authorship.
Themes
identity
creativity
paradox
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- writing workshops
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
authorial voice
self‑perception
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you see yourself in this paradox?
- How does this affect your perception of writers?
A Different Perspective
The view may overgeneralize writers, ignoring individual differences.
