--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A problem with my novels is that they…" description: "\"A problem with my novels is that they, from the start, have been infantile and incredibly childish. There are childishness, stupidity, lack of wisdom, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/karl-ove-knausgard-3539_be-good_a-problem-with-my-novels-is-that-they-fr_173111.png" --- # A problem with my novels is that they, from the start… ![“A problem with my novels is that they, from the start, have been infantile and incredibly childish. There are childishness, stupidity, lack of wisdom, fantasies. At the same time, that's where my creativity can be found. If I tried to control it and make it more mature, it wouldn't be good at all…” quote by Karl Ove Knausgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/karl-ove-knausgard-3539_be-good_a-problem-with-my-novels-is-that-they-fr_173111.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/karl-ove-knausgard-3539_be-good_a-problem-with-my-novels-is-that-they-fr_173111.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5d/karl-ove-knausgard-3539_be-good_a-problem-with-my-novels-is-that-they-fr_173111.png) > “A problem with my novels is that they, from the start, have been infantile and incredibly childish. There are childishness, stupidity, lack of wisdom, fantasies. At the same time, that's where my creativity can be found. If I tried to control it and make it more mature, it wouldn't be good at all. It'd be uninteresting, without any vivacity.” [Karl Ove Knausgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author sees early immaturity in his work as both a flaw and a source of creative energy, fearing that over‑refinement would strip it of vitality. **In simple terms:** Early childishness can spark creativity but may hinder depth. Key Takeaway Balance raw imagination with thoughtful refinement. Themes creativity immaturity balance artistic growth self‑critique Mood reflective conflicted hopeful Type self‑reflective artistic When to use this quote - writing drafts - creative brainstorming - editing - workshop feedback - personal reflection Key Concepts naïveté inventiveness artistic tension Questions to Reflect On - How can you preserve spontaneity while adding depth? - What aspects of childishness enhance your storytelling? A Different Perspective Maturity may dilute the unique voice and emotional immediacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Childish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childish/) [Childish Childishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childish-childishness-1870103/) [Childishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childishness/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Infantile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infantile/) [Mature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mature/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-novels-1870104/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Vivacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vivacity/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“There is so much woman in many a girl and too much boy in many a man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/there-is-so-much-woman-in-many-a-girl-and-too-much-boy-in-many-a-man/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Teen problem novels? 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You just have to come up with an idea...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/writing-isn-t-black-magic-you-just-have-to-come-up-with-an-idea/) [Karl Ove Knausgård](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [“It was a fantastic feeling, but it left me restless because the most important thing in it was the longing, for what was going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/it-was-a-fantastic-feeling-but-it-left-me-restless-because-the-most/) [Karl Ove Knausgård](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [“the past is now barely present in my thoughts. I believe the main reason for that is our children, since life with them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/the-past-is-now-barely-present-in-my-thoughts-i-believe-the-main/) [Karl Ove Knausgård](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [“I loved it, I loved the feeling, it was my favorite feeling, but it never led to anything good, and the day after or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/i-loved-it-i-loved-the-feeling-it-was-my-favorite-feeling-but-it/) [Karl Ove Knausgård](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [“Actually there were only two forms of existence, I reflected: one that was tied to a place and one that wasn't. 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Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) [Browse all 1,747 Be good quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A problem with my novels is that they, from the start, have been infantile and incredibly childish. There are childishness, stupidity, lack of wisdom, fantasies. At the same time, that's where my creativity can be found. If I tried to control it and make it more mature, it wouldn't be good at all. 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