Destruction Quote by Roland Barthes
“We can never know, for the good reason that writing is the destruction of every voice, every origin. Writing is that neuter, that composite, that obliquity into which our subject flees, the black-and-white where all identity is lost, beginning with the very identity of the body that writes.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Image-Music-Text, Roland Barthes, 1977
Writing erases the speaker’s lived voice, turning identity into a neutral, abstract medium that obscures origin.
In simple terms: Writing hides the writer’s identity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how medium shapes meaning.
Themes
identity
language
representation
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary analysis
- creative writing
- media criticism
Key Concepts
poststructuralism
subjectivity
media theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the medium you choose affect your voice?
- Can anonymity be a tool rather than a loss?
A Different Perspective
Writing can still convey personal nuance despite abstraction.
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