Action Quote by Sabina Murray
“In some ways, Valiant Gentlemen grows out of Tales of the New World, my collection of short stories about explorers who lived "great" lives, but whose experience of it was in the same register as all our lives are - we feel the same extent of human emotion regardless of how exceptional our actions are: nothing is more exceptional than one's own life.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Valiant Gentlemen, 2022
The author reflects that extraordinary lives share the same emotional depth as ordinary ones, emphasizing that personal experience is the most remarkable story.
In simple terms: Great lives feel ordinary inside.
Key Takeaway
Value your own life’s story.
Themes
human experience
emotion
exceptionality
Mood
thoughtful
inspired
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing memoirs
- teaching literature
- self‑reflection
- celebrating everyday life
Key Concepts
narrative identity
comparative humility
existential meaning
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes your life feel exceptional?
- How do you honor ordinary moments?
A Different Perspective
Might overlook unique achievements in others.
![“[Jorge Luis Borges] had short stories, and I was trying to learn how to write short stories, and then he had these things in the middle that were like fables, and I loved hearing fables.” quote by Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a46/sandra-cisneros-862_borges_jorge-luis-borges-had-short-stories-and_102630.jpg)
