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Quote by George Saunders

“If they ever get around to building The Short Story Museum, I think they’d better carve this over the doorway: ‘A short story works to remind us that if we are not sometimes baffled and amazed and undone by the world around us, rendered speechless and stunned, perhaps we are not paying close enough attention.”

Quote by George Saunders

Author

George Saunders
George Saunders

George Saunders, born on December 2, 1958, is an American writer known for his unique humor and profound insights. His works, primarily short stories, have gained widespread recognition and have been honored with numerous literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. more

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“اهدنا الصراط المستقيم ''تابع الأنبياء الثلاثة جولتهم التفقدية في الأراضي السورية، ووصلوا إلى قرية صغيرة مطوقة بالأشجار الخضر، فبوغتوا بأهلها الفقراء مقتولين تناثرت جثثهم الممزقة في طرقاتها وحقولها، فاجتاحهم حزن وأسف وغضب، وناشدوا ربهم أن يحاسب القتلة شر حساب، وبادروا إلى التسلح ومطاردة القتلة. ولم يبال القتلة بالهجوم الذي شنه عليهم ثلاثة مسلحين طاعنين في السن، وتمكنوا بعد أمد قصير من تطويقهم والقضاء عليهم بغير خسائر، وسارعت سكاكينهم إلى فصل رؤوسهم عن أجسادهم، وثبتوها بأغصان إحدى الأشجار، وعلقوا ما تبقى من أجساد القتلى الثلاثة على شجرة أخرى، فبدت الشجرتان مختلفتين عن غيرهما من الأشجار وبداية لنوع جديد من الشجر سيتكاثر في الأيام القريبة الآتية.”

“I made many decisions, some awful and others brilliant, but I found ways to keep that openness in my soul that meant more to me than breathing. I told them over the years what I was doing, how I was trying what no one in my family had ever tried to do. When I was failing, I admitted that as well, and they listened politely. I also knew that’s all they could do. One lonely night in Connecticut, I pulled myself from a window’s ledge. No one else next to me. Another day I chose to do something someone like me should have never accomplished, and yet I did, and kept going. I learned to recognize when others, like Jean, were much better than me, because they had faith in my soul. I believed in very little, but I kept going until I would get tired or defeated, and then I would take time to discover another wall to throw myself at. I was, and I am, and I will be, a peculiar kind of immigrant’s son. I got old, and that made everything better, including me.”

“The short story is that which, like a flash of lightning, pierces right through while establishing a viewpoint; without any other machinations, simply gestures with a finger to awaken dormant emotions; creates an entirely new imaginary world around the reader. The novel says whatever it wants. The short story, by rousing the imagination and emotions, only alludes to or provides a spark of whatever it wants to say. This is why the writer of the short story needs a reader who is impressible, emotional, swift and intelligent; to such a reader, he will be forever in debt.”

“Silent, scarlet picking though this grand new year, an optimistic premise promised with sickening cheer. So please, pull up a chair and take a stand for all grand intentions. List your resolutions then kindly re-arrange them. Departmentalize your wicked, wonton ways - tell me all about yourself, but spend the most time on the things you hate. Pull out all your in-efficacious and ridiculous disguises; put on a simple act but perform it with abandon. Put your heart and your soul into the fire. Burn your thoughts before you think them, burn them up and take their stink in.”