“When I write I am trying to express my way of being in the world. This is primarily a process of elimination. Once you have removed all the dead language, the second-hand dogma, the truths that are not your own but other people’s, the mottos, the slogans, the out-and-out lies of your nation, the myths […]
Monday’s Muse: Zadie Smith
“When I write I am trying to express my way of being in the world. This is primarily a process of elimination. Once you have removed all the dead language, the second-hand dogma, the truths that are not your own but other people’s, the mottos, the slogans, the out-and-out lies of your nation, the myths of your historical moment. Once you have removed all that warps experience into a shape you do not recognize and do not believe in, what you are left with is something approximating the truth of your own conception.”
— Zadie Smith, British-Jamaican award-winning author, and this week’s muse.
I only recently came across this quote, but I can’t stop thinking about it. A wonderful reminder on how easily morphed and diluted we can become in response to our interactions, experiences and surroundings, and how important it is to consider that – or even better, reconsider them. Other than these words, I don’t know too much else about Zadie Smith at this stage, but I’ve currently got a few tabs open on my computer, ready to purchase one of her books… if the quote above is anything to go by, I’ll be in for a treat I think.
