You do not write a novel for praise, or thinking of your audience. You write for yourself; you work out between you and your pen the things that intrigue you
Bret Easton EllisRead
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a profound inner conflict between human physicality and a lack of emotional connection, highlighting turmoil and psychological instability.
In this quote, the speaker reveals a deep existential crisis where the outward characteristics of being human exist, yet there is an absence of meaningful emotions, reflecting inner turmoil dominated by greed and disgust. The mention of a 'mask of sanity' suggests a struggle to maintain a façade of normalcy while battling intense and chaotic feelings that threaten to overwhelm the individual's identity and stability.
Themes
HumanEmotionTurmoilGreedPsychology
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about psychological thrillers, one could quote this to illustrate the complexity of human emotions.
More from Bret Easton Ellis
All quotes →I felt lethal, on the verge of frenzy. My nightly bloodlust overflowed into my days and I had to leave the city. My mask of sanity was a victim of impending slippage. This was the bone season for me and I needed a vacation.
Bret Easton EllisRead
If I want to write a movie, I'll write a screenplay, but if I have an idea for a book, it's something that I think can only be done novelistically.
Bret Easton EllisRead
But this was what happened when you didn't want to visit and confront the past: the past starts visiting and confronting you.
Bret Easton EllisRead
I come to a red light, tempted to go through it, then stop once I see a billboard sign that I don’t remember seeing and I look up at it. All it says is 'Disappear Here' and even though it’s probably an ad for some resort, it still freaks me out a little and I step on the gas really hard and the car screeches as I leave the light.
Bret Easton EllisRead
But this road doesn't go anywhere,” I told him. “That doesn't matter.” “What does?” I asked, after a little while. “Just that we're on it, dude,” he said.
Bret Easton EllisRead
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