Test of character Quote by Janet Malcolm
““The subject of a piece of writing has not suffered the tension and anxiety endured by the subject of the "Eichmann experiment" (as it has been called) - on the contrary, he has been on a sort of narcissist's holiday during the period of interviews - but when the moment of peripeteia comes, he is confronted with the same mortifying spectacle of himself flunking a test of character he did not know he was taking.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Journalist and the Murderer, 1990
The subject of the writing avoids deep self‑examination, unlike Eichmann, who faced a stark moral test during his trial.
In simple terms: Writers often avoid confronting their own character flaws.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper self‑awareness in storytelling.
Themes
self‑examination
morality
journalism
Mood
critical
introspective
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- interviews
- biographical writing
- ethical journalism
Key Concepts
narcissism
ethical testing
Questions to Reflect On
- What moral tests do we ignore in our work?
- How can journalists balance honesty with empathy?
A Different Perspective
Self‑reflection can be uncomfortable and may compromise objectivity.
