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Depth Quote by Graham Greene

“So much of a novelist's writing, as I have said, takes place in the unconscious: in those depths the last word is written before the first word appears on the paper. We remember details of our story, we do not invent them.” quote by Graham Greene
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“So much of a novelist's writing, as I have said, takes place in the unconscious: in those depths the last word is written before the first word appears on the paper. We remember details of our story, we do not invent them.”

Graham Greene

About This Quote

Source Novel: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, 1951

Writing emerges from the unconscious; details surface before conscious planning.

In simple terms: Unconscious guides storytelling.

Key Takeaway

Trust intuition in creative work.

Themes

creativity writing subconscious

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • novel writing
  • screenwriting
  • dream analysis
  • therapy sessions

Key Concepts

psychology intuition literary theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does your subconscious influence your work?
  • Can you balance intuition with planning?
A Different Perspective

Risk of losing intentional structure or clarity.

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