Peace Quote by Harold Brodkey
““I distrust summaries, any kind of gliding through time, any too great a claim that one is in control of what one recounts; I think someone who claims to understand but who is obviously calm, someone who claims to write with emotion recollected in tranquility, is a fool and a liar. To understand is to tremble. To recollect is to reenter and be riven. An acrobat after spinning through the air in a mockery of flight stands erect on his perch and mockingly takes his bow as if what he is being applauded for was easy for him and cost him nothing, although meanwhile he is covered with sweat and his smile is edged with a relief chilling to think about; he is indulging in a show-business style; he is pretending to be superhuman. I am bored with that and with here it has brought us. I admire the authority of being on one's knees in front of the event. - Innocence, from My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead””
About This Quote
Source Book: Innocence, from My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead by Harold Brodkey, 1974
The quote warns against pretentious, detached narratives; true understanding comes from vulnerability and confronting discomfort, not from calm, polished storytelling.
In simple terms: Understanding requires raw, uneasy honesty, not polished calm.
Key Takeaway
Embrace discomfort to truly understand.
Themes
authenticity
vulnerability
truth
humility
Mood
reflective
serious
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- writing
- therapy
- public speaking
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you confront discomfort in your work?
- What does humility reveal about truth?
A Different Perspective
Polished narratives can mask deeper truths and mislead.
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