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Quote by Gertrude Stein

Work

A Stein Reader

This reader offers a selection of Gertrude Stein's poetry, essays, and plays, showcasing her innovative style and influential contributions to modern literature. more

Author

Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein

Gertrude Stein, an American writer born on February 3, 1874, and died on July 27, 1946. She is renowned for her unique writing style and her influence on modernist literature. more

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“There is one purpose to life and one only: to bear witness to and understand as much as possible of the complexity of the world -- its beauty, its mysteries, its riddles. The more you understand, the more you look, the greater is your enjoyment of life and your sense of peace. That's all there is to it. Everything else is fun and games. If an activity is not grounded in "to love" or "to learn" it does not have value.”

“I wanted the past to go away, I wanted to leave it, like another country; I wanted my life to close, and open like a hinge, like a wing, like the part of the song where it falls down over the rocks: an explosion, a discovery; I wanted to hurry into the work of my life; I wanted to know, whoever I was, I was alive for a little while.”

“Is there anyone’s life story you don’t want to know?” “Not really.” His expression was unexpectedly serious. “Because people make a story of their lives. Gains, losses, tragedy and triumph—you can tell a lot about someone simply by what they put into each category. You can learn a lot about what you put into each category by your reaction to them. They teach you about yourself without ever intending to do it—and they teach you a lot about life.”