Books Quote by Umberto Eco
“I discovered ... that a novel has nothing to do with words in the first instance. Writing a novel is a cosmological matter, like the story told by Genesis (we all have to choose our role models, as Woody Allen puts it).”
About This Quote
Source Interview: "On the Nature of the Novel", 1995
He argues that a novel's essence is cosmological, transcending mere words, akin to mythic storytelling.
In simple terms: A novel is about cosmic meaning, not just language.
Key Takeaway
Write with universal, beyond words.
Themes
literature
cosmology
mythology
Mood
introspective
inspirational
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- literary analysis
- philosophical discussions
Key Concepts
narrative structure
symbolism
cultural myths
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers balance cosmic themes with clear prose?
- What role do myths play in modern storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Risk of abstracting too far from reader accessibility.
