--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every novel is like this, desperation, a…" description: "\"Every novel is like this, desperation, a frustrated attempt to save something of the past. Except that it still has not been established whether it is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/jos-saramago-208_books_every-novel-is-like-this-desperation-a-f_400871.png" --- # Every novel is like this, desperation, a frustrated… ![“Every novel is like this, desperation, a frustrated attempt to save something of the past. Except that it still has not been established whether it is the novel that prevents man from forgetting himself or the impossibility of forgetfulness that makes him write novels.” quote by Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/jos-saramago-208_books_every-novel-is-like-this-desperation-a-f_400871.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/jos-saramago-208_books_every-novel-is-like-this-desperation-a-f_400871.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/jos-saramago-208_books_every-novel-is-like-this-desperation-a-f_400871.png) > “Every novel is like this, desperation, a frustrated attempt to save something of the past. Except that it still has not been established whether it is the novel that prevents man from forgetting himself or the impossibility of forgetfulness that makes him write novels.” [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote questions whether literature preserves identity or if the human need to remember drives writing. **In simple terms:** Novels may protect memory or stem from forgetfulness. Key Takeaway Consider how storytelling shapes self‑knowledge. Themes memory identity literature human nature existentialism Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - writing memoirs - therapy through fiction - archiving history - teaching literature Key Concepts Narrative theory philosophy of self cognitive psychology Questions to Reflect On - What role does memory play in your creative work? - Can forgetting be as valuable as remembering? A Different Perspective If forgetting is essential, novels might hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgetfulness/) [Frustrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrated/) [Impossibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossibility/) [Impossibility Forgetfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossibility-forgetfulness-3595271/) [Like Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-desperation-2028316/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Prevents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-prevents-3595270/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Write Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-novels/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Confidence definitely did not get me here! 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I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/sometimes-people-write-novels-and-they-just-be-so-wordy-and-so-self/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I write novels and other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/i-write-novels-and-other-things/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [I am a writer, which means I write stories, I write novels, and I would write poetry if I knew how to. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-am-a-writer-which-means-i-write-stories-i-write-novels-and-i-would/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [“...writers are a savage breed, Mr. Strike. If you want life-long friendship and selfless camaraderie, join the army and learn to kill. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/writers-are-a-savage-breed-mr-strike-if-you-want-life-long-friendship/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [I'm a novelist at heart. How's that? 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I want to write stories. I want to do the stuff that I became a writer to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-want-to-write-novels-i-want-to-write-stories-i-want-to-do-the-stuff/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More by Jose Saramago > [“We are born, and at that moment, it is as if we had signed a pact for the rest of our life, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/we-are-born-and-at-that-moment-it-is-as-if-we-had-signed-a-pact-for/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I am not a prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-am-not-a-prophet/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [With the passage of time, as well as the social evolution and genetic exchange, we ended up putting our conscience in the color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/with-the-passage-of-time-as-well-as-the-social-evolution-and-genetic/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Al día siguiente no murió nadie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/al-d-a-siguiente-no-muri-nadie/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“E se as histórias para crianças passassem a ser de leitura obrigatória para os adultos? Seriam eles capazes de aprender realmente o que há…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/e-se-as-hist-rias-para-crian-as-passassem-a-ser-de-leitura-obrigat/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [In a king, modesty would be a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/in-a-king-modesty-would-be-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“the inmates of the second ward in the right wing have decided, at long last, to bury their dead, at least we shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/the-inmates-of-the-second-ward-in-the-right-wing-have-decided-at-long/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“Stretching one arm behind him, the man passed his hand over the horse's coat, his own skin transformed, or skin which had transformed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/stretching-one-arm-behind-him-the-man-passed-his-hand-over-the-horse/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [I think we are blind. Blind people who can see, but do not see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-think-we-are-blind-blind-people-who-can-see-but-do-not-see/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [...you have to leave the island in order to see the island, that we can't see ourselves unless we become free of ourselves, Unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/you-have-to-leave-the-island-in-order-to-see-the-island-that-we-can-t/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [anyone who gets up early by inclination or has been forced to rise early out of necessity finds it intolerable that others should go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/anyone-who-gets-up-early-by-inclination-or-has-been-forced-to-rise/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Society has to change, but the political powers we have at the moment are not enough to effect this change. 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