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Quote by E. L. Doctorow

“The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is because we need witnesses to this terrifying century.”

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E. L. Doctorow

E. L. Doctorow was an American author renowned for his historical novels. His works often use the backdrop of American history to delve into the complexities of human nature. Born on January 6, 1931, Doctorow passed away on July 21, 2015. more

“Who says you need to wait until you 'feel like' doing something in order to start doing it? The problem, from this perspective, isn't that you don't feel motivated; it's that you imagine you need to feel motivated. If you can regard your thoughts and emotions about whatever you're procrastinating on as passing weather, you'll realise that your reluctance about working isn't something that needs to be eradicated or transformed into positivity. You can coexist with it. You can note the procrastinatory feelings and act anyway.”

“True security lies in the unrestrained embrace of insecurity - in the recognition that we never really stand on solid ground, and never can.”

Lying Security Embrace Recognition Insecurity

Author:Oliver Burkeman

“The effort to feel happy is often precisely the thing that makes us miserable. And that it is out constant efforts to eliminate the negative - insecurity, uncertainty, failure, or sadness - that is what causes us to feel so insecure, anxious, uncertain, or unhappy.”

Feels Causes Effort Sadness Negative Constant Unhappy Miserable Uncertainty Insecurity Anxious Uncertain Insecure

Author:Oliver Burkeman

“Ask yourself whether you are happy', observed the philosopher John Stuart Mill, 'and you cease to be so.' At best, it would appear, happiness can only be glimpsed out of the corner of an eye, not stared at directly.”

Eye Asks Philosopher Corners Cease Mills

Author:Oliver Burkeman

“Reassurance can actually exacerbate anxiety: when you reassure your friend that the worst-case scenario he fears probably won't occur, you inadvertently reinforce his belief that it would be catastrophic if it did. You are tightening the coil of his anxiety, not loosening it. All to often, the Stoics point out, things will not turn out for the best.”

Ifs Would Be Turns Belief Cases Worst Anxiety Scenarios Reassurance Worst Case Scenario

Author:Oliver Burkeman

Quote by E. L. Doctorow

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