Books Quote by James Morrow
![“[...] as Kurt Vonnegut pointed out [...] the literary novel has become extraordinarily privatistic of late. It's as if the big issues (Does God exist? from whence springs decency? what sort of species is Homo Sapiens?) were either settled or not worth discusssing, and serious writers should…” quote by James Morrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ea7/james-morrow-40721_books_as-kurt-vonnegut-pointed-out-the-literar_175007.jpg)
““[...] as Kurt Vonnegut pointed out [...] the literary novel has become extraordinarily privatistic of late. It's as if the big issues (Does God exist? from whence springs decency? what sort of species is Homo Sapiens?) were either settled or not worth discusssing, and serious writers should therefore confine themselves to their various ethnic heritages and interpersonal relationships.””
About This Quote
The quote critiques contemporary literary fiction for focusing on personal and ethnic narratives while avoiding universal, philosophical questions about existence, morality, and humanity.
In simple terms: Modern novels often prioritize private stories over big existential debates.
Key Takeaway
Encourage writers to balance personal narratives with broader societal issues.
Themes
literature
philosophy
culture
identity
society
Mood
thoughtful
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- literary criticism
- author interviews
- academic curricula
- public debates
Key Concepts
existentialism
privatism
human nature
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a novel weave personal experience with universal questions?
- What risks arise when literature avoids big issues?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on personal stories may alienate readers seeking deeper meaning.
![“What occurs to people when they read Kurt [Vonnegut] is that things are much more up for grabs than they thought they were. The world is a slightly different place just because they read a damn book. Imagine that.” quote by Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b7b/mark-vonnegut-10170_book_what-occurs-to-people-when-they-read-kur_731454.jpg)
![“I think that his [Kurt Vonnegut's] appeal, though, will always be chiefly to adolescents. His sense of the world matches that of young people, who feel deeply life's absurdity.” quote by Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ad/michael-dirda-3414_absurdity_i-think-that-his-kurt-vonnegut-s-appeal_652900.jpg)
![“Finally, one night we were smoking pot [with Michael O'Donoghue] and talking about the people that are invariably in high school, whether you go to prep school or public school or ghetto school or rich suburban school. And actually, it spun off from a Kurt Vonnegut quote.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a43/p-j-o-rourke-184_ghetto_finally-one-night-we-were-smoking-pot-wi_324321.jpg)
![“[Kurt] Vonnegut once said, if you ever want to know who somebody is... Like you look at Richard Nixon, or Adolf Hitler, or Ralph Nader, or anybody who seems like a difficult person to understand, and is therefore not part of the pattern of human behavior. Think about who they were in high school…” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/900/p-j-o-rourke-184_behavior_kurt-vonnegut-once-said-if-you-ever-want_97504.jpg)
