--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For novelists, sharply drawn moral…" description: "\"For novelists, sharply drawn moral conflicts are often useful, and even human and personal disasters can be seen as material.\" — Justin Cartwright" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/justin-cartwright-7411_disasters_for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-confli_1933010.jpg" --- # For novelists, sharply drawn moral conflicts are often… ![“For novelists, sharply drawn moral conflicts are often useful, and even human and personal disasters can be seen as material.” quote by Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/justin-cartwright-7411_disasters_for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-confli_1933010.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/justin-cartwright-7411_disasters_for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-confli_1933010.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/justin-cartwright-7411_disasters_for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-confli_1933010.jpg) > “For novelists, sharply drawn moral conflicts are often useful, and even human and personal disasters can be seen as material.” [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Novelists can use sharp moral conflicts and personal disasters as material for storytelling. **In simple terms:** Use moral conflict and disaster as story material. Key Takeaway Incorporate ethical dilemmas and crises. Themes writing ethics conflict creativity Mood analytical inspired Type literary educational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - teaching creative writing - personal journaling Key Concepts narrative tension character development psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can conflict be balanced with optimism? - What moral questions resonate most today? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on conflict may alienate readers seeking hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflicts Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicts-useful-3035365/) [Disasters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disasters/) [Drawn Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawn-moral-3035366/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Moral Conflicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-conflicts-1663493/) [Novelists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelists/) [Novelists Sharply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelists-sharply-3035367/) [Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen/) [Useful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useful/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Mental illness is a myth, whose function is to disguise and thus render more palatable the bitter pill of moral conflicts in human relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-szasz/mental-illness-is-a-myth-whose-function-is-to-disguise-and-thus/) [Thomas Szasz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-szasz/) > [Science cannot resolve moral conflicts, but it can help to more accurately frame the debates about those conflicts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/science-cannot-resolve-moral-conflicts-but-it-can-help-to-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's a shame there has to be a tragedy before the best in people will finally shine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-shame-there-has-to-be-a-tragedy-before-the-best-in-people-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you see natural disasters caught on film you realize how well they had been imagined by Hollywood for such a long time. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/when-you-see-natural-disasters-caught-on-film-you-realize-how-well/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [The environmental movement, like all political processes, reacts best to disasters. But these are very slow, very gradual disasters in the making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/the-environmental-movement-like-all-political-processes-reacts-best/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [Disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, floods, oil spills and radioactive fallout cause massive death of people, pigs, bats and birds. These disasters also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-stamets/disasters-such-as-earthquakes-tsunamis-volcanoes-floods-oil-spills/) [Paul Stamets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-stamets/) > [In addition to surviving the Forrestal, McCain has survived three other plane disasters, including being shot down over enemy territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/in-addition-to-surviving-the-forrestal-mccain-has-survived-three/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [So there you have it: Nature is a rotten mess. But that's only the beginning. If you take your eyes off it for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goldberg/so-there-you-have-it-nature-is-a-rotten-mess-but-that-s-only-the/) [Lee Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goldberg/) > [“The reality is people have always died in large numbers in natural disasters such as avalanches, earthquakes, and tornadoes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/the-reality-is-people-have-always-died-in-large-numbers-in-natural/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [The fact that disasters have the power to bring us all together probably explains why weddings are so popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-fact-that-disasters-have-the-power-to-bring-us-all-together/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Being along with the Nature your soul is stronger than all disasters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esat-durak/being-along-with-the-nature-your-soul-is-stronger-than-all-disasters/) [Esat Durak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esat-durak/) > [Birth: The first and direst of all disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/birth-the-first-and-direst-of-all-disasters/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [Even disasters -- there are always disasters when you travel -- can be turned into adventures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/even-disasters-there-are-always-disasters-when-you-travel-can-be/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [Disasters affect every state, and North Carolinians have given our own tax dollars to help neighbors and those in other states in times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/disasters-affect-every-state-and-north-carolinians-have-given-our-own/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) ## More by Justin Cartwright > [My own interest in Kafka's letter came about when I was writing an article on Peter Ginz, the boy novelist held in Terezin, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/my-own-interest-in-kafka-s-letter-came-about-when-i-was-writing-an/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [Germany led the world in photography and film: 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari' and 'Metropolis' are works that, to this day, film buffs revere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/germany-led-the-world-in-photography-and-film-the-cabinet-of-dr/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [I was lucky to get to Oxford. I am now an honorary fellow of my old college, which is nice, particularly for a colonial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/i-was-lucky-to-get-to-oxford-i-am-now-an-honorary-fellow-of-my-old/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [The plane approaches Cape Town and, as always, I am astonished by the view of Table Mountain and the surrounding sea. It is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/the-plane-approaches-cape-town-and-as-always-i-am-astonished-by-the/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [Someone once pointed out that there are quite a lot of animals in my books, and I'm sure that is something to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/someone-once-pointed-out-that-there-are-quite-a-lot-of-animals-in-my/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [It is uncomfortable to be reminded that the Catholic church only removed the reference to 'perfidious Jews' from the Good Friday liturgy in 1960.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/it-is-uncomfortable-to-be-reminded-that-the-catholic-church-only/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [I have worshipped Berlin from the day I read 'Two Concepts of Liberty' in South Africa. It seemed to make it respectable to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/i-have-worshipped-berlin-from-the-day-i-read-two-concepts-of-liberty/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [So often in English fiction, people are either upper-class twits, or else they're knockabouts, less than human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/so-often-in-english-fiction-people-are-either-upper-class-twits-or/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [I write from what I take to be the realist's point of view, looking at life as it really is - or the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/i-write-from-what-i-take-to-be-the-realist-s-point-of-view-looking-at/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [This Oscar Pistorius business is interesting. There is this cult of carrying lots of guns and being ready to shoot somebody. There were people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/this-oscar-pistorius-business-is-interesting-there-is-this-cult-of/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [The fascination with Judas has persisted despite the fact that there is no evidence of the hard facts of his life. Even the 'Iscariot'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/the-fascination-with-judas-has-persisted-despite-the-fact-that-there/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [Nicola Barker is both prodigiously talented and admirably fearless. I have loved her books. But for some time, I had little or no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/nicola-barker-is-both-prodigiously-talented-and-admirably-fearless-i/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [Writing 'Judas: The Troubling History of the Renegade Apostle' must have been a difficult task because there are no facts. Judas may quite possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/writing-judas-the-troubling-history-of-the-renegade-apostle-must-have/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [The Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford is an astonishing building, designed by Christopher Wren. Its painted ceiling has just been restored so that the darkish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/the-sheldonian-theatre-in-oxford-is-an-astonishing-building-designed/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [Complete barista-standard coffee machines cost from £1,600 to more than £20,000.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/complete-barista-standard-coffee-machines-cost-from-1-600-to-more/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) [Explore all 91 Justin Cartwright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) ## More Disasters quotes > [Disasters affect every state, and North Carolinians have given our own tax dollars to help neighbors and those in other states in times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/disasters-affect-every-state-and-north-carolinians-have-given-our-own/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [Even disasters -- there are always disasters when you travel -- can be turned into adventures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/even-disasters-there-are-always-disasters-when-you-travel-can-be/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [It is in the genes of cities to bounce back from disasters - whether natural or man made. The denizens of suburbia have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/it-is-in-the-genes-of-cities-to-bounce-back-from-disasters-whether/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [Birth: The first and direst of all disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/birth-the-first-and-direst-of-all-disasters/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“Being along with the Nature your soul is stronger than all disasters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esat-durak/being-along-with-the-nature-your-soul-is-stronger-than-all-disasters/) [Esat Durak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esat-durak/) > [The fact that disasters have the power to bring us all together probably explains why weddings are so popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-fact-that-disasters-have-the-power-to-bring-us-all-together/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The reality is people have always died in large numbers in natural disasters such as avalanches, earthquakes, and tornadoes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/the-reality-is-people-have-always-died-in-large-numbers-in-natural/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [So there you have it: Nature is a rotten mess. But that's only the beginning. If you take your eyes off it for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goldberg/so-there-you-have-it-nature-is-a-rotten-mess-but-that-s-only-the/) [Lee Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goldberg/) > [In addition to surviving the Forrestal, McCain has survived three other plane disasters, including being shot down over enemy territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/in-addition-to-surviving-the-forrestal-mccain-has-survived-three/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [Disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, floods, oil spills and radioactive fallout cause massive death of people, pigs, bats and birds. These disasters also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-stamets/disasters-such-as-earthquakes-tsunamis-volcanoes-floods-oil-spills/) [Paul Stamets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-stamets/) > [The environmental movement, like all political processes, reacts best to disasters. But these are very slow, very gradual disasters in the making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-danson/the-environmental-movement-like-all-political-processes-reacts-best/) [Ted Danson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-danson/) > [When you see natural disasters caught on film you realize how well they had been imagined by Hollywood for such a long time. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/when-you-see-natural-disasters-caught-on-film-you-realize-how-well/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [“It's a shame there has to be a tragedy before the best in people will finally shine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-a-shame-there-has-to-be-a-tragedy-before-the-best-in-people-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My understanding is that we are generally a very philanthropic and compassionate people - that when there are disasters in the world, individual citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rylance/my-understanding-is-that-we-are-generally-a-very-philanthropic-and/) [Mark Rylance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rylance/) > [i am a limitless series of natural disasters and all of these disasters have been unnaturally repressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-am-a-limitless-series-of-natural-disasters-and-all-of-these/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) [Browse all 224 Disasters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disasters/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For novelists, sharply drawn moral conflicts are often useful, and even human and personal disasters can be seen as material.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Justin Cartwright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-conflicts-are-often-useful-and-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disasters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-conflicts-are-often-useful-and-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/justin-cartwright-7411_disasters_for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-confli_1933010.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/justin-cartwright-7411_disasters_for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-confli_1933010.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da2/justin-cartwright-7411_disasters_for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-confli_1933010.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For novelists, sharply drawn moral conflicts are often useful, and even human and personal disasters can be…” — Justin Cartwright", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Justin Cartwright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For novelists, sharply drawn moral conflicts...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-conflicts-are-often-useful-and-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/for-novelists-sharply-drawn-moral-conflicts-are-often-useful-and-even/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```