--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In most books, the I, or first person, is…" description: "\"“In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference. We commonly do no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/henry-david-thoreau-20_books_in-most-books-the-i-or-first-person-is-o_352190.jpg" --- # In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this… ![“In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference. We commonly do not remember that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking. I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/henry-david-thoreau-20_books_in-most-books-the-i-or-first-person-is-o_352190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/henry-david-thoreau-20_books_in-most-books-the-i-or-first-person-is-o_352190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/henry-david-thoreau-20_books_in-most-books-the-i-or-first-person-is-o_352190.jpg) > ““In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference. We commonly do not remember that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking. I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well. Unfortunately, I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience. Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men's lives; some such account as he would send to his kindred from a distant land; for if he has lived sincerely, it must have been in a distant land to me. Perhaps these pages are more particularly addressed to poor students. As for the rest of my readers, they will accept such portions as apply to them. I trust that none will stretch the seams in putting on the coat, for it may do good service to him whom it fits.”” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues for authentic first‑person storytelling, urging writers to share sincere personal experience rather than second‑hand accounts. **In simple terms:** Write from your own life, not just others'. Key Takeaway Prioritize honest self‑expression. Themes authenticity self‑reflection literary honesty personal narrative Mood reflective introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - teaching writing - personal essays - memoir workshops - literary criticism Key Concepts subjectivity egocentrism narrative voice Questions to Reflect On - How does personal truth affect reader connection? - When is self‑focus excessive? A Different Perspective Readers may find intense self‑focus off‑putting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Egotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egotism/) [First person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-person/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walden/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [In most books, the I, of first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-most-books-the-i-of-first-person-is-omitted-in-this-it-will-be/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-on-my-side-require-of-every-writer-first-or-last-a-simple-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Perhaps these pages are more particularly addressed to poor students. 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Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. 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Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference. We commonly do not remember that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking. I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well. Unfortunately, I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience. Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men's lives; some such account as he would send to his kindred from a distant land; for if he has lived sincerely, it must have been in a distant land to me. Perhaps these pages are more particularly addressed to poor students. As for the rest of my readers, they will accept such portions as apply to them. 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