Alas Quote by Susan Sontag
“Superficial to understand the journal as just a receptable for one's private, secret thoughts - like a confidante who is deaf, dumb, and illiterate. In the journal I do not just express myself more openly than I could to any person; I create myself. ... The journal is a vehicle for my sense of selfhood. It represents me as emotionally and spiritually independent. Therefore (alas) it does not simply record my actual, daily life but rather - in many cases - offers an alternative to it.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Illness of the Self” in *On Photography*, 1977
Journaling acts as a reflective tool that shapes identity, not merely records experiences.
In simple terms: Writing in a journal creates and defines self.
Key Takeaway
Use journaling to explore and construct personal identity.
Themes
identity
self‑reflection
creativity
Mood
introspective
thoughtful
Type
reflective
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- therapy
- creative writing
- self‑discovery
Key Concepts
psychology
narrative identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does journaling change your self‑perception?
- What aspects of self are you most honest about?
A Different Perspective
Journals may reinforce self‑myths rather than truth.
![“Anthropology has always struggled with an intense, fascinated repulsion towards its subject… [The anthropologist] submits himself to the exotic to confirm his own inner alienation as an urban intellectual.” quote by Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fe1/susan-sontag-332_alienation_anthropology-has-always-struggled-with-a_15322.jpg)
