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Quote by Clifton Fadiman

“There are two kinds of writers; the great ones who can give you truths, and the lessor ones, who can only give you themselves.”

Author

Clifton Fadiman

Clifton Fadiman was an American intellectual, editor, and writer renowned for his contributions to literature and culture. Born on May 15, 1904, and passing away on June 20, 1999, Fadiman's career spanned several decades, during which he made significant impacts on the literary world. more

“At one time I thought the most important thing was talent. I think now that the young man must possess or teach himself, training himself, in infinite patience, which is to try and to try until it comes right. He must train himself in ruthless intolerance-that is to throw away anything that is false no matter how much he might love that page or that paragraph. The most important thing is insight, that is to be-curiosity-to wonder, to mull, and to muse why it is that man does what he does, and if you have that, then I don't think the talent makes much difference, whether you've got it or not.”

“Often I think writing is a sheer paring away of oneself leaving always something thinner, barer, more meagre.”

Thinking Writing Leaving Oneself Sheer

Book:Collected Letters of F. Scott Fitzgerald: From the author of The Great Gatsby, The Side of Paradise, Tender Is the Night, The Beautiful and Damned, The Love of the Last Tycoon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and many other notable works

Source: Collected Letters of F. Scott Fitzgerald: From the author of The Great Gatsby, The Side of Paradise, Tender Is the Night, The Beautiful and Damned, The Love of the Last Tycoon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and many other notable works

“You've got to sell your heart, your strongest reactions, not the little minor things that only touch you lightly, the little experiences that you might tell at dinner. This is especially true when you begin to write, when you have not yet developed the tricks of interesting people on paper, when you have none of the technique which it takes time to learn. When, in short, you have only your emotions to sell.”