Creation and destruction Quote by Robert Kroetsch
““A loose generalization would have it that creation and destruction go hand in hand. But my destruction takes the form of trying to make an old story work, for instance having almost to destroy the old story to tell it anew. The Odyssey is an oldie. Which I try to tell on dry land, so to speak, in The Studhorse Man. You see, the old stories, instead of illuminating the world, sometimes stop us from seeing it. It's like a pair of glasses that don't quite fit any longer.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Studhorse Man by Robert Kroetsch, 1975
Reworking old stories can require dismantling them; clinging to outdated narratives blinds us, like ill‑fitting glasses.
In simple terms: Old narratives can hinder new insight.
Key Takeaway
Question and reshape inherited stories.
Themes
creativity
tradition
storytelling
innovation
perception
Mood
reflective
inspirational
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- education
- media analysis
- personal growth
- cultural preservation
Key Concepts
narrative theory
cultural critique
literary reinvention
Questions to Reflect On
- What stories limit your view today?
- How can you responsibly break from tradition?
A Different Perspective
New perspectives may be resisted by attachment to the familiar.
