Danger Quote by Joseph Conrad
““Danger lies in the writer becoming the victim of his own exaggeration ... and in the end coming to despise truth itself as something too cold, too blunt for his purpose—as, in fact, not good enough for his insistent emotion. From laughter and tears the descent is easy to sniveling and giggles.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, 1899
Exaggeration can trap writers, making them reject truth for emotional impact, leading to shallow sentimentality.
In simple terms: Writers may lose truth to drama.
Key Takeaway
Beware over‑dramatizing.
Themes
writing
truth
emotion
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- journalism
- public speaking
Key Concepts
literary criticism
self‑deception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance emotion with honesty?
- When does drama become distortion?
A Different Perspective
Exaggeration can also highlight important issues.
