Asks Quote by John D'Agata
“I would ask the people who were generous toward my own work. After class one day a poetry professor said to me, "Hey, there's this guy Basho you would find interesting," and so I found Basho. A fiction teacher told me, "You ought to read Clarice Lispector if you're interested in that sort of in-between stuff," and then Lispector appeared. It's not magic. You just keep your eyes open.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
Learning comes from seeking recommendations and staying open to new voices, not from mystical insight
In simple terms: Keep an eye out for suggestions to discover new ideas
Key Takeaway
Stay receptive to suggestions
Themes
learning
curiosity
mentorship
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
encouraging
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- Classroom
- reading
- creative work
Key Concepts
Literary discovery
networking
open-mindedness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal taste with external recommendations?
- What sources broaden your perspective?
A Different Perspective
May overlook personal intuition in favor of external advice
