--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can write a radical Norwegian or a…" description: "\"You can write a radical Norwegian or a conservative Norwegian. And when I changed to a conservative Norwegian, I gained this distance or objectivity in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/karl-ove-knausgaard-21990_changed_you-can-write-a-radical-norwegian-or-a-c_850416.jpg" --- # You can write a radical Norwegian or a conservative… ![“You can write a radical Norwegian or a conservative Norwegian. And when I changed to a conservative Norwegian, I gained this distance or objectivity in the language. The gap released something in me, and in the writing, which made it possible for the protagonist to think thoughts I had never…” quote by Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/karl-ove-knausgaard-21990_changed_you-can-write-a-radical-norwegian-or-a-c_850416.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/karl-ove-knausgaard-21990_changed_you-can-write-a-radical-norwegian-or-a-c_850416.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b7/karl-ove-knausgaard-21990_changed_you-can-write-a-radical-norwegian-or-a-c_850416.jpg) > “You can write a radical Norwegian or a conservative Norwegian. And when I changed to a conservative Norwegian, I gained this distance or objectivity in the language. The gap released something in me, and in the writing, which made it possible for the protagonist to think thoughts I had never myself thought.” [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing linguistic style creates emotional distance, allowing the writer to explore perspectives beyond personal experience. **In simple terms:** Adopting a different voice opens new viewpoints. Key Takeaway Use language shifts to gain objectivity. Themes creativity self‑reflection identity writing perspective Mood introspective analytical Type literary reflective When to use this quote - Literary fiction - personal essays - character development Key Concepts Narrative voice psychological distance authorial imagination Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape thought? - What benefits arise from deliberate distance? A Different Perspective May alienate readers who prefer authentic voice; ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Norwegian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/norwegian/) [Objectivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectivity/) [Protagonist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protagonist/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't be the forgotten voice in an unwritten book. Ikke bli den glemte stemmen i en uskreven bok.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atle-jarn-s-ler-y/don-t-be-the-forgotten-voice-in-an-unwritten-book-ikke-bli-den-glemte/) [Atle Jarnæs Lerøy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atle-jarn-s-ler-y/) > [I'm, like, half Norwegian and half Italian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-regbo/i-m-like-half-norwegian-and-half-italian/) [Toby Regbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-regbo/) > [Nowadays I'm more interested in what you'd call 'alternative.' Lately we've been listening to a lot of Mumford & Sons, and Jenny Owen Youngs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/nowadays-i-m-more-interested-in-what-you-d-call-alternative-lately-we/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I'm a half-breed. You know, I'm Puerto Rican and Norwegian from descent, and I grew up, born and raised in New York City, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemon-andersen/i-m-a-half-breed-you-know-i-m-puerto-rican-and-norwegian-from-descent/) [Lemon Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemon-andersen/) > [I have blood from Dutch and Norwegian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadanobu-asano/i-have-blood-from-dutch-and-norwegian/) [Tadanobu Asano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadanobu-asano/) > [It is typically Norwegian to be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kjell-magne-bondevik/it-is-typically-norwegian-to-be-good/) [Kjell Magne Bondevik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kjell-magne-bondevik/) > [Living here where I live, on a farm way out in the countryside, in the woods, in fact, I have plenty of time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/living-here-where-i-live-on-a-farm-way-out-in-the-countryside-in-the/) [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) > [I missed the Olympic team in 1996 - missed making the team. I tried to make a comeback in my sport, and soon after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/i-missed-the-olympic-team-in-1996-missed-making-the-team-i-tried-to/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [Well, the biggest Norwegian newspaper regarded this as an arrest, since they hadn't told us that they were coming and they brought me in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-johansen/well-the-biggest-norwegian-newspaper-regarded-this-as-an-arrest-since/) Jon Johansen > [I do chat to my mother in Norwegian, particularly when we want a secret conversation. It is useful that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hanson/i-do-chat-to-my-mother-in-norwegian-particularly-when-we-want-a/) [Alexander Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hanson/) > [I dream in Norwegian, I count in Norwegian so that basically makes me Norwegian now, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-maflin/i-dream-in-norwegian-i-count-in-norwegian-so-that-basically-makes-me/) [Kurt Maflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-maflin/) > [I'm Norwegian and I'm proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erling-haaland/i-m-norwegian-and-i-m-proud-of-it/) [Erling Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erling-haaland/) > [I am an American, but a sense of otherness was part of my growing up. I spoke Norwegian before I spoke English. My mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-am-an-american-but-a-sense-of-otherness-was-part-of-my-growing-up-i/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [I am very proud to be Norwegian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-zellweger/i-am-very-proud-to-be-norwegian/) [Renee Zellweger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-zellweger/) > [“I'm Norwegian and our ghosts don't care about nookie, just raiding, blood feuds, and herring recipes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-gonzalez/i-m-norwegian-and-our-ghosts-don-t-care-about-nookie-just-raiding/) Ani Gonzalez ## More by Karl Ove Knausgaard > [I do feel guilty. I do. Especially about my family, my children. I write about them, and I know that this will haunt them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/i-do-feel-guilty-i-do-especially-about-my-family-my-children-i-write/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [The difficult thing for me is that I want basically to be a good man. That's what I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/the-difficult-thing-for-me-is-that-i-want-basically-to-be-a-good-man/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [It's one thing to be banal, stupid, and idiotic on the inside. It's another to have it captured in writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/it-s-one-thing-to-be-banal-stupid-and-idiotic-on-the-inside-it-s/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [“As your perspective of the world increases not only is the pain it inflicts on you less but also its meaning. Understanding the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/as-your-perspective-of-the-world-increases-not-only-is-the-pain-it/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [When it comes to memories of that iconic type, memories that are burned into you, I have maybe ten or so from my childhood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/when-it-comes-to-memories-of-that-iconic-type-memories-that-are/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [I am happy because I am no longer an author.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/i-am-happy-because-i-am-no-longer-an-author/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [Life develops, changes, is in motion. The forms of literature are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/life-develops-changes-is-in-motion-the-forms-of-literature-are-not/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [“Why should you live in a world without feeling its weight?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/why-should-you-live-in-a-world-without-feeling-its-weight/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [Form is, in a way, death. A novelist's obligation is to break free from the form, even though he knows that this will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/form-is-in-a-way-death-a-novelist-s-obligation-is-to-break-free-from/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [My memory is basically visual: that's what I remember, rooms and landscapes. What I do not remember are what the people in these room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/my-memory-is-basically-visual-that-s-what-i-remember-rooms-and/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [“Until I moved to Stockhold I had felt there was a continuity to my life, as if it stretched unbroken from childhood up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/until-i-moved-to-stockhold-i-had-felt-there-was-a-continuity-to-my/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [“Writing is more about destroying than creating" (195).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/writing-is-more-about-destroying-than-creating-195/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [I'm giving away my family's story. Who owns the family's story? I don't. But you could turn it around and ask, 'Who is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/i-m-giving-away-my-family-s-story-who-owns-the-family-s-story-i-don-t/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [My intention throughout has been to write, to create literature, and to be able to look people in the eye after I'd done it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/my-intention-throughout-has-been-to-write-to-create-literature-and-to/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [Concealing what is shameful to you will never lead to anything of value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/concealing-what-is-shameful-to-you-will-never-lead-to-anything-of/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) [Explore all 28 Karl Ove Knausgaard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) ## More Changed quotes > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [You made me hate my own reflection Question every choice I make So I could try to be perfect But I will try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn/you-made-me-hate-my-own-reflection-question-every-choice-i-make-so-i/) [Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn/) > [Everything has changed and nothing has changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lowery/everything-has-changed-and-nothing-has-changed/) [Joseph Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lowery/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [When I became Miss World, I couldn't believe I had won it. I used to sleep with my crown because I was scared someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/when-i-became-miss-world-i-couldn-t-believe-i-had-won-it-i-used-to/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-light-changed-from-red-to-green-to-yellow-and-back-to-red/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Working with Rihanna has changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/working-with-rihanna-has-changed-my-life/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [The international game has changed for bidding cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ueberroth/the-international-game-has-changed-for-bidding-cities/) [Peter Ueberroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ueberroth/) > [You changed my life, don't know what you're doing to me with your love. You got me feeling super human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-changed-my-life-don-t-know-what-you-re-doing-to-me-with-your-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) Browse all 6,529 Changed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can write a radical Norwegian or a conservative Norwegian. And when I changed to a conservative Norwegian, I gained this distance or objectivity in the language. 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