--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find that the writing of a memoir has…" description: "\"“I find that the writing of a memoir has two functions. One is to pass on, as much as you’re willing to tell, the fact’s and deeds of your life to thos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/neil-simon-10535_courage_i-find-that-the-writing-of-a-memoir-has_2280966.jpg" --- # I find that the writing of a memoir has two functions. One… ![“I find that the writing of a memoir has two functions. One is to pass on, as much as you’re willing to tell, the fact’s and deeds of your life to those who might be at all interested. The other function is to discover a truth about yourself that you never had either the time or the courage to face…” quote by Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/neil-simon-10535_courage_i-find-that-the-writing-of-a-memoir-has_2280966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/neil-simon-10535_courage_i-find-that-the-writing-of-a-memoir-has_2280966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/neil-simon-10535_courage_i-find-that-the-writing-of-a-memoir-has_2280966.jpg) > ““I find that the writing of a memoir has two functions. One is to pass on, as much as you’re willing to tell, the fact’s and deeds of your life to those who might be at all interested. The other function is to discover a truth about yourself that you never had either the time or the courage to face before. You will never investigate yourself as vehemently as you do when you put one word after another, one thought after another, one revelation after another, in the pages that make up your memoirs, and you will suddenly realize the person you are instead of the person you thought you were. To force memory is to open yourself up to that which you have chosen to forget. It’s your RASHOMON. You begin to see all the different sides of your own story.”” [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing a memoir serves both to share personal experiences with interested readers and to uncover hidden self‑truths through the act of recounting. **In simple terms:** Memoirs share life and reveal self truths. Key Takeaway Write to understand yourself. Themes self‑discovery memory storytelling identity reflection Mood introspective reflective Type personal therapeutic literary When to use this quote - personal journaling - family histories - therapy sessions - creative writing workshops Key Concepts Narrative therapy autobiographical honesty psychological insight Questions to Reflect On - What truths might you avoid confronting? - How does sharing your story affect your relationships? A Different Perspective The process can be emotionally painful and may expose private details unintentionally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) [Memoir-writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir-writing/) [Memoirs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoirs/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [One of the things I learned about writing a memoir is you can’t drag the reader through everything. Every human life is worth 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-things-i-learned-about-writing-a-memoir-is-you-can-t-drag/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every book adds a grain of humility and humanity to the communal ground that we tread. 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Writing an elongated series of personal essay opens a person’s mind to explore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/writing-is-an-exhausting-and-demoralizing-task-that-destroys-human/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“Life is an ongoing journey where the intrepid traveler explores as many tributaries in the river of life as possible. Living consists of probing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/life-is-an-ongoing-journey-where-the-intrepid-traveler-explores-as/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“Recounting the narrative of our personal story in a methodical and chronological manner helps us see our life in a historical perspective. Telling our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/recounting-the-narrative-of-our-personal-story-in-a-methodical-and/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“The most difficult thing to do after a life well lived is to sit down and type it all out. To start with, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-manral/the-most-difficult-thing-to-do-after-a-life-well-lived-is-to-sit-down/) [Kiran Manral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-manral/) > [“Storytelling is ultimately the only way that we know besides song, dance, painting, and music to share with our tribesmen what it means to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/storytelling-is-ultimately-the-only-way-that-we-know-besides-song/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“Language is our identity tool and by using experience, observation, and imagination, we each discover the words that give voice to our lives. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/language-is-our-identity-tool-and-by-using-experience-observation-and/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Writing your memoir is inherently narcissistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jane-grace/writing-your-memoir-is-inherently-narcissistic/) [Laura Jane Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-jane-grace/) > [Usually, with a novel, you start with no idea what to do because your job is to create convincing characters and then they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/usually-with-a-novel-you-start-with-no-idea-what-to-do-because-your/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [ I'd say, \[writing memoir\] not so much a model, but maybe to provide an insight, here or there, to help somebody come to terms… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-d-say-writing-memoir-not-so-much-a-model-but-maybe-to-provide-an/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [ Writing a memoir isn't particularly interesting to me. I'm not like Ellen \[DeGeneres\], where I can write, 'Water bottles--they're crazy!' and it's funny. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/writing-a-memoir-isn-t-particularly-interesting-to-me-i-m-not-like/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [I had a very high-grade publisher tell me I was incapable of writing a memoir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-had-a-very-high-grade-publisher-tell-me-i-was-incapable-of-writing/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) ## More by Neil Simon > [Talent is the gift plus the passion - a desire to succeed so intense that no force on earth can stop it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/talent-is-the-gift-plus-the-passion-a-desire-to-succeed-so-intense/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [You get attached to the way you write, and I'm attached to notebooks. That's where I really write the plays. 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But the art of it is drawing from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/everyone-thinks-they-can-write-a-play-you-just-write-down-what/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [Sports is the only entertainment where, no matter how many times you go back, you never know the ending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/sports-is-the-only-entertainment-where-no-matter-how-many-times-you/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [Evan Handler's new book is simply wonderful. He pulls you inside his life, and you come out his very close friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/evan-handler-s-new-book-is-simply-wonderful-he-pulls-you-inside-his/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [The body of a young woman is God's greatest achievement...Of course, He could have built it to last longer but you can't have everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/the-body-of-a-young-woman-is-god-s-greatest-achievement-of-course-he/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [I don't like dating or just living with a woman. I like to create a relationship, a marriage. And almost all of my marriages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/i-don-t-like-dating-or-just-living-with-a-woman-i-like-to-create-a/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [ “\[Y\]ou're young. Young takes care of everything.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/y-ou-re-young-young-takes-care-of-everything/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [People with honorary awards are looked upon with disfavor. Would you let an honorary mechanic fix your brand-new Mercedes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/people-with-honorary-awards-are-looked-upon-with-disfavor-would-you/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [I feel like writing about a time when I was probably, and think all of us are, the happiest before the obligations start in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-simon/i-feel-like-writing-about-a-time-when-i-was-probably-and-think-all-of/) [Neil Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-simon/) > [“You're a witness. You're always standing around watching what's happening, scribbling in your book what other people do. 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A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. 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