--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After reading Graham Greene and Joseph…" description: "\"After reading Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad when I was a student at Yale, I wanted to live in the world they captured in their books. I had had some ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/leslie-cockburn-24332_adventure_after-reading-graham-greene-and-joseph-c_880701.jpg" --- # After reading Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad when I was a… ![“After reading Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad when I was a student at Yale, I wanted to live in the world they captured in their books. I had had some experience living in Africa. I was drawn to that kind of adventure.” quote by Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/leslie-cockburn-24332_adventure_after-reading-graham-greene-and-joseph-c_880701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/leslie-cockburn-24332_adventure_after-reading-graham-greene-and-joseph-c_880701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec7/leslie-cockburn-24332_adventure_after-reading-graham-greene-and-joseph-c_880701.jpg) > “After reading Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad when I was a student at Yale, I wanted to live in the world they captured in their books. I had had some experience living in Africa. I was drawn to that kind of adventure.” [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker was inspired by Greene and Conrad’s literary worlds, seeking adventure and exotic experiences after studying at Yale and living in Africa. **In simple terms:** He wanted to live the adventurous lives described in those books. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that align with your literary inspirations. Themes adventure literature identity travel inspiration Mood reflective nostalgic inspired Type literary personal When to use this quote - travel planning - career change - creative writing - expedition leadership Key Concepts narrative longing personal quest cultural immersion Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of those literary worlds are realistic? - How can you balance adventure with stability? A Different Perspective The desire for adventure may overlook practical challenges and responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Writing about Africa by Africans has been part of my literary apprenticeship, standing alongside works by authors such as Joseph Conrad, Joyce Cary and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-foden/writing-about-africa-by-africans-has-been-part-of-my-literary/) [Giles Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-foden/) > [“The value of experience, real or imagined, is that is shows us how to - or how NOT to - live. In reading about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-sankovitch/the-value-of-experience-real-or-imagined-is-that-is-shows-us-how-to/) [Nina Sankovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-sankovitch/) > [You know, I've read Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness' about fifteen times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-balog/you-know-i-ve-read-joseph-conrad-s-heart-of-darkness-about-fifteen/) [James Balog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-balog/) > [I am a Graham Greene fan - I'm just a ferocious reader. I read an awful lot when I get the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/i-am-a-graham-greene-fan-i-m-just-a-ferocious-reader-i-read-an-awful/) [Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/) > [Of John Le Carre's books, I've only read 'The Spy Who Came In From The Cold,' and I haven't read anything by Graham Greene,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young-ha/of-john-le-carre-s-books-i-ve-only-read-the-spy-who-came-in-from-the/) [Kim Young-ha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-young-ha/) > [In researching 'The Luminaries,' I did read quite a lot of 20th-century crime. My favourites out of that were James M. Cain, Dassiell Hammett,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-catton/in-researching-the-luminaries-i-did-read-quite-a-lot-of-20th-century/) [Eleanor Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-catton/) > [From Graham Greene, I learnt how to be an accessible writer who grapples with our doubts as sentient individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/from-graham-greene-i-learnt-how-to-be-an-accessible-writer-who/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > ['The Third Man,' directed by Carol Reed and written by Graham Greene, is, quite simply, one of the finest movies ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-third-man-directed-by-carol-reed-and-written-by-graham-greene-is/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac, Albert Camus, Graham Greene - they influenced my life to a profound extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/henry-miller-jack-kerouac-albert-camus-graham-greene-they-influenced/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [For a while we were chasing a book by Graham Greene to do Brighton Rock as a musical. We didn't get the rights, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-tennant/for-a-while-we-were-chasing-a-book-by-graham-greene-to-do-brighton/) [Neil Tennant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-tennant/) > [My parents were interested in history and the world. My father read Graham Greene and Georges Simenon and was a strong trade unionist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/my-parents-were-interested-in-history-and-the-world-my-father-read/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [I work every day until I do not have more to say. I learned from Graham Greene that a very good way is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/i-work-every-day-until-i-do-not-have-more-to-say-i-learned-from/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [Expeditions can greatly contribute towards building strength of character. Joseph Conrad in Lord Jim tells us that it is necessary for a youth to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/expeditions-can-greatly-contribute-towards-building-strength-of/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [For me a Writing Day was an occasion for self-reproach and panic, a time to lament the passing of the years, stare out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/for-me-a-writing-day-was-an-occasion-for-self-reproach-and-panic-a/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [I just gave them a little scare. A touch of psychological terror. As Joseph Conrad once wrote, true terror is the kind that men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-just-gave-them-a-little-scare-a-touch-of-psychological-terror-as/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More by Leslie Cockburn > [“Are you a journalist?” “I’m a doctor.” “Good. We need doctors, Wallahi .” Sadoon scowled. “Journalists only tell lies and smuggle carpets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/are-you-a-journalist-i-m-a-doctor-good-we-need-doctors-wallahi-sadoon/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [“But there are times, I would argue, when fiction delivers the greater truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/but-there-are-times-i-would-argue-when-fiction-delivers-the-greater/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [When you do a piece of journalism, you may have to cut away 95 percent of what you are experiencing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/when-you-do-a-piece-of-journalism-you-may-have-to-cut-away-95-percent/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [When I was in London at NBC, I was the lowest man on the totem pole. I would go to diplomatic receptions to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/when-i-was-in-london-at-nbc-i-was-the-lowest-man-on-the-totem-pole-i/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [When I was at graduate school in London, I began working at NBC News, which had a thriving documentary unit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/when-i-was-at-graduate-school-in-london-i-began-working-at-nbc-news/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [When you have a situation that's destructive, when there's tremendous inhumanity everywhere, you see how humanity survives in all of its different permutations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/when-you-have-a-situation-that-s-destructive-when-there-s-tremendous/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [“There are a lot of people missing in Iraq. Just the other day I heard of somebody asking $250,000 ransom for an Egyptian. Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/there-are-a-lot-of-people-missing-in-iraq-just-the-other-day-i-heard/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [“Death was sweetened for the martyrs by the promise of 72 virgins waiting in paradise. She had researched the 72 virgins. The number wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/death-was-sweetened-for-the-martyrs-by-the-promise-of-72-virgins/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [I think the greatest thing about making a documentary is your ability to just follow the story and the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/i-think-the-greatest-thing-about-making-a-documentary-is-your-ability/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [In documentary films, the most difficult thing to achieve is to make something complex appear simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/in-documentary-films-the-most-difficult-thing-to-achieve-is-to-make/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [“You can take me to Petra, and sing for me in the ruins.” “Insha’Allah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/you-can-take-me-to-petra-and-sing-for-me-in-the-ruins-insha-allah/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [I covered the first Gulf War in Saudi Arabia and Israel for ABC News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/i-covered-the-first-gulf-war-in-saudi-arabia-and-israel-for-abc-news/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [Journalism, for me, has always been a calling. There are things that must be exposed to the light, truths that must be uncovered, stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/journalism-for-me-has-always-been-a-calling-there-are-things-that/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [“She had done her residency at LA County Hospital, where the CT machines were so old she had to mark off the body parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/she-had-done-her-residency-at-la-county-hospital-where-the-ct/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) > [“Why did you become a journalist?” “Better than working for a living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-cockburn/why-did-you-become-a-journalist-better-than-working-for-a-living/) [Leslie Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) [Explore all 24 Leslie Cockburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-cockburn/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) Jessica Yu > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) Kevin McLeod > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After reading Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad when I was a student at Yale, I wanted to live in the world they captured in their books. I had had some experience living in Africa. 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