Books Quote by Paul Auster
“I wanted to do something different. Therefore, the first person I thought would have been too exclusionary. It would have said me, me, me, me, me. I, I, I, I, I. As if I were pushing away my experiences from the experiences of others. Because basically what I was trying to do was show our commonality. I mean to say, in the very ordinariness of what I recount I think perhaps the reader will find resonances with his or her own life.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
The speaker reflects on avoiding self‑centered storytelling to highlight shared human experiences.
In simple terms: Avoiding ego to show commonality.
Key Takeaway
Focus on universal moments.
Themes
empathy
storytelling
humanity
Mood
introspective
thoughtful
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- teaching
- personal essays
- community building
Key Concepts
self‑reflection
commonality
narrative technique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance personal voice with universal appeal?
- What stories reveal shared experiences?
A Different Perspective
May still risk diluting personal voice.
