Children Quote by Nelson DeMille
““and some other shit, and the wife—can’t remember her name—would cry a lot. The kids were young. Three of them. They were okay, but they always talked about the big house they had in Cuba. And servants. So I guess they all felt like they got fucked.” He smiled. “Hey, I was born fucked in New Jersey.” There were two kinds of history: the kind you read about, and the kind you lived through—or were actually part of. For Jack, the Cuban Revolution was a childhood memory. For Sara, it was family history, and part of who she was. For Eduardo, it was a boyhood trauma and an obsession. And for me, it was irrelevant. Until today. Jack asked me, “You trust these people?” “My instincts say they’re honorable””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The General's Daughter, 1997
The quote contrasts personal histories with larger historical events, showing how personal trauma shapes perception of history.
In simple terms: Personal past versus collective history.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how personal experience colors your view of history.
Themes
history
family
identity
memory
trauma
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
critical
Type
narrative
personal
historical
When to use this quote
- family discussions
- therapy sessions
- historical research
- writing memoirs
Key Concepts
subjective perception
generational impact
cultural memory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your family history affect your view of current events?
- Can you separate personal trauma from collective history?
A Different Perspective
Personal bias may obscure broader context.
