Autobiography Quote by John Dos Passos
“There is a part of me in every character, naturally. That's why novelists rarely write good autobiographies. You start one and it becomes another novel.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Big Money, John Dos Passos, 1936
Writers embed parts of themselves in fictional characters, making autobiographies feel like another novel.
In simple terms: Writers project themselves into fiction, blurring autobiography.
Key Takeaway
Recognize personal bias in storytelling.
Themes
creativity
identity
writing
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- autobiography
- character development
Key Concepts
self‑projection
fictionalization
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal experience shape fictional characters?
- Can a writer ever be truly objective?
A Different Perspective
Autobiographies may lack objectivity.
