--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My impression is that life—a big word, I…" description: "\"“My impression is that life—a big word, I know—inflicts themes on a writer through certain experiences that impress themselves on his consciousness or ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/mario-vargas-llosa-1493_impression_my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i_1026919.jpg" --- # My impression is that life—a big word, I know—inflicts… ![“My impression is that life—a big word, I know—inflicts themes on a writer through certain experiences that impress themselves on his consciousness or subconscious and later compel him to shake himself free by turning them into stories.” quote by Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/mario-vargas-llosa-1493_impression_my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i_1026919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/mario-vargas-llosa-1493_impression_my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i_1026919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/mario-vargas-llosa-1493_impression_my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i_1026919.jpg) > ““My impression is that life—a big word, I know—inflicts themes on a writer through certain experiences that impress themselves on his consciousness or subconscious and later compel him to shake himself free by turning them into stories.”” [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life forces writers to confront deep themes through personal experiences, which they later transform into stories to achieve freedom. **In simple terms:** Writers turn personal struggles into stories. Key Takeaway Use experience to fuel creative work. Themes creativity self‑discovery storytelling Mood reflective introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - novel writing - personal essays - therapy sessions Key Concepts psychology narrative therapy Questions to Reflect On - How do you choose which experiences become stories? - What risks arise when personal pain is public? A Different Perspective Stories may oversimplify complex trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“...a memoir is meant to be an impression of life, and not a photograph.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-finney-boylan/a-memoir-is-meant-to-be-an-impression-of-life-and-not-a-photograph/) [Jennifer Finney Boylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-finney-boylan/) > [Possibly the most interesting first impression of my life came from the world of dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/possibly-the-most-interesting-first-impression-of-my-life-came-from/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [Any point of view is interesting that is a direct impression of life. You each have an impression colored by your individual conditions; make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/any-point-of-view-is-interesting-that-is-a-direct-impression-of-life/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [We've created an impression that life is risk-free, and it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-wood/we-ve-created-an-impression-that-life-is-risk-free-and-it-s-not/) [Alastair Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-wood/) > [“A novel is in its broadest definition a personal, a direct impression of life: that, to begin with, constitutes its value, which is greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/a-novel-is-in-its-broadest-definition-a-personal-a-direct-impression/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [Its Not How Long You Spend With The Person. But, The Memories You Created With Them, That Will Leave An Impression On Their Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-not-how-long-you-spend-with-the-person-but-the-memories-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Certain experiences you never forget, no matter how old you become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burnham-schwartz/certain-experiences-you-never-forget-no-matter-how-old-you-become/) [John Burnham Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnham-schwartz/) > [I've always been super-private and protective of certain experiences and certain friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-ve-always-been-super-private-and-protective-of-certain-experiences/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I enjoy slipping into different roles and incorporate certain experiences into my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antara-mali/i-enjoy-slipping-into-different-roles-and-incorporate-certain/) [Antara Mali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antara-mali/) > [I did years of work that was enjoyable, but didn't necessarily always have a point to it, and I think you get to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fearne-cotton/i-did-years-of-work-that-was-enjoyable-but-didn-t-necessarily-always/) [Fearne Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fearne-cotton/) > [We tell specific stories about ourselves to ourselves and we're all the heroes of our own lives. But you live through certain experiences with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/we-tell-specific-stories-about-ourselves-to-ourselves-and-we-re-all/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I was kind of reflecting on my life and certain experiences, and you know, when I'm teaching and coaching my partners on 'Dancing With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/i-was-kind-of-reflecting-on-my-life-and-certain-experiences-and-you/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [I do not believe that I am now dreaming, but I cannot prove that I am not. I am, however, quite certain that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-do-not-believe-that-i-am-now-dreaming-but-i-cannot-prove-that-i-am/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [As with anything in life, when you have certain experiences at pivotal times, they shape you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-cassidy/as-with-anything-in-life-when-you-have-certain-experiences-at-pivotal/) [Elaine Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-cassidy/) > [Character is determined more by the lack of certain experiences than by those one has had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/character-is-determined-more-by-the-lack-of-certain-experiences-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Mario Vargas Llosa > [I think everybody, or the great majority of human beings, have this aspiration to become other: to live a different identity, at least for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-everybody-or-the-great-majority-of-human-beings-have-this/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [I learnt to read when I was five, and I think that is the most important thing that happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-learnt-to-read-when-i-was-five-and-i-think-that-is-the-most/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Death isn't enough. It doesn't remove the stain. But a slap, a whiplash, square on the face, does. Because a man's face is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/death-isn-t-enough-it-doesn-t-remove-the-stain-but-a-slap-a-whiplash/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [The writer’s job is to write with rigor, with commitment, to defend what they believe with all the talent they have. I think that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/the-writer-s-job-is-to-write-with-rigor-with-commitment-to-defend/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [The truths that seem most truthful, if you look at them from all sides, if you look at them close up, turn out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/the-truths-that-seem-most-truthful-if-you-look-at-them-from-all-sides/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [That is one thing I am sure of amid my many uncertainties regarding the literary vocation: deep inside, a writer feels that writing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/that-is-one-thing-i-am-sure-of-amid-my-many-uncertainties-regarding/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [I think if you're impregnated with good literature, with good culture, you're much more difficult to manipulate, and you're much more aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-think-if-you-re-impregnated-with-good-literature-with-good-culture/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Each book, for me, has been an adventure, a period of time dedicated to study, to document certain facts, to traveling, and also to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/each-book-for-me-has-been-an-adventure-a-period-of-time-dedicated-to/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Reading good literature is an experience of pleasure...but it is also an experience of learning what and how we are, in our human integrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/reading-good-literature-is-an-experience-of-pleasure-but-it-is-also/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [“O comes o te comen, no hay más remedio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/o-comes-o-te-comen-no-hay-m-s-remedio/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [“they knew what we’re doing for them, they’d kiss our feet. But mentally they are closer to the crocodile and the hippopotamus than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/they-knew-what-we-re-doing-for-them-they-d-kiss-our-feet-but-mentally/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Iraq is better without Saddam Hussein than with Saddam Hussein. Without a doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/iraq-is-better-without-saddam-hussein-than-with-saddam-hussein/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [When I was growing up, the Spanish-speaking world was Balkanized. We were isolated. We didn't know what was happening in cultural terms in Ecuador,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/when-i-was-growing-up-the-spanish-speaking-world-was-balkanized-we/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) [Explore all 166 Mario Vargas Llosa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) ## More Impression quotes > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [“In the innovation age customer experience is key. Your impression defines their expression”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/in-the-innovation-age-customer-experience-is-key-your-impression/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [I have often heard that the novel is dead. But I see novels produced, I don't know how many a week, in France. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-sarraute/i-have-often-heard-that-the-novel-is-dead-but-i-see-novels-produced-i/) [Nathalie Sarraute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-sarraute/) > [Cinema has become my life. I dont mean a parallel world, I mean my life itself. I sometimes have the impression that the daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-almodovar/cinema-has-become-my-life-i-dont-mean-a-parallel-world-i-mean-my-life/) [Pedro Almodovar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-almodovar/) > [Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/good-history-is-a-question-of-survival-without-any-past-we-will/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [My dad's quite a conservative person, and he brought me up to be very questioning of the commercial world. He looked down on pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/my-dad-s-quite-a-conservative-person-and-he-brought-me-up-to-be-very/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [It used to be that whenever I introduced myself to people and told them I was a psychologist, they would shrink away from me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/it-used-to-be-that-whenever-i-introduced-myself-to-people-and-told/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [If we Europeans are not in a state to be able to solve the refugee crisis ourselves, if we only depend on Plan B…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-kurz/if-we-europeans-are-not-in-a-state-to-be-able-to-solve-the-refugee/) [Sebastian Kurz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-kurz/) > [Wayne Rooney has always made a great impression on me, even though I have only ever seen him on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-quagliarella/wayne-rooney-has-always-made-a-great-impression-on-me-even-though-i/) [Fabio Quagliarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-quagliarella/) > [What an immense impression Paris made upon me. It is the most extraordinary place in the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-an-immense-impression-paris-made-upon-me-it-is-the-most/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [My movies, in general, I have the impression that when they finish of course they're never originally what you had in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-amenabar/my-movies-in-general-i-have-the-impression-that-when-they-finish-of/) [Alejandro Amenabar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-amenabar/) > [I think it's really important that I'm not the only model in the world that goes through personal problems. People forget that we're human.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-hadid/i-think-it-s-really-important-that-i-m-not-the-only-model-in-the/) [Gigi Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-hadid/) > [The impossibility of separating the nomenclature of a science from the science itself, is owing to this, that every branch of physical science must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-lavoisier/the-impossibility-of-separating-the-nomenclature-of-a-science-from/) [Antoine Lavoisier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-lavoisier/) Browse all 2,147 Impression quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My impression is that life—a big word, I know—inflicts themes on a writer through certain experiences that impress themselves on his consciousness or subconscious and later compel him to shake himself free by turning them into stories.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mario Vargas Llosa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i-know-inflicts-themes-on-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Impression" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i-know-inflicts-themes-on-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/mario-vargas-llosa-1493_impression_my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i_1026919.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/mario-vargas-llosa-1493_impression_my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i_1026919.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09c/mario-vargas-llosa-1493_impression_my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i_1026919.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My impression is that life—a big word, I know—inflicts themes on a writer through certain experiences that…” — Mario Vargas Llosa", "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": "Mario Vargas Llosa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“My impression is that life—a big...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i-know-inflicts-themes-on-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/my-impression-is-that-life-a-big-word-i-know-inflicts-themes-on-a/#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 } } ] } ```