Admire 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 is obviously calk, 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 re-enter and be riven. ... I admire the authority of being on one's knees in front of the event.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Narrative, 1995
The quote warns against overconfidence in summarizing life; true understanding comes from humility and emotional honesty, not detached analysis.
In simple terms: Understanding requires humility, not detached summaries.
Key Takeaway
Embrace vulnerability when recalling events.
Themes
humility
truth
emotional honesty
storytelling
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal memoir writing
- historical analysis
- therapeutic journaling
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humility change your perception of memory?
- When is a summary sufficient?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the value of concise communication in some contexts.
