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Business Quote by Paul Auster

“I hear her slip into bed with him, and I hear everything that happens after that. Sex is such a strange and sloppy business, why bother to recount every slurp and moan that ensued? Tom and Honey deserve their privacy, and for that reason I will end my report of the night's activities here. If some…” quote by Paul Auster
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““I hear her slip into bed with him, and I hear everything that happens after that. Sex is such a strange and sloppy business, why bother to recount every slurp and moan that ensued? Tom and Honey deserve their privacy, and for that reason I will end my report of the night's activities here. If some readers object, I ask them to close their eyes and use their imaginations.””

Paul Auster

About This Quote

Source Novel: In the Woods, 2007

The narrator chooses to omit explicit sexual details, respecting privacy and encouraging imagination.

In simple terms: He stops describing intimate scenes to protect privacy.

Key Takeaway

Respect privacy, let readers imagine.

Themes

privacy imagination sexuality

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

literary ethical

When to use this quote

  • literary criticism
  • creative writing
  • reader engagement

Key Concepts

ethics narrative restraint

Questions to Reflect On

  • Should authors always omit intimate details?
  • How does imagination affect reader experience?
A Different Perspective

Explicit detail may alienate or distract from story.

2.3 out of 5 (7 ratings)

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