I used to work very long hours. Then I started to realize that the stuff that I was writing in the late afternoons, I was generally throwing out. So I quit earlier than I used to.
Robert CaroRead
I am trying to make clear through my writing something which I believe: that biography- history in general- can be literature in the deepest and highest sense of that term.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Biography can be a profound form of literature.
In this quote, Robert Caro expresses his belief that biography, and history at large, should not be viewed merely as factual accounts but rather as a form of literature that can evoke deep emotions and insights. He suggests that the stories of individuals and the events of the past hold significant literary value and can resonate with readers on a profound level.
Themes
BiographyLiteratureHistoryWritingStories
In practice
Example use cases
In a book club discussion, one might use this quote to highlight the literary merits of a historical biography.
More from Robert Caro
All quotes βLong Island is shaped the way it is largely because of Robert Moses. Long Island is a perfect example of how political power shapes people's lives every day.
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What would be the good of rushing? You want these books to last.
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I sometimes feel that if your book sells more than 20 years, then there's something in it that you can say, gee, I did something that endures, that's timeless
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If you really want to show power in its larger aspects, you need to show the effects on the powerless, for good or ill - the human cost of public works. That's what I try to do, show not only how power works but its effect on people.
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It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So for me, I would always have an excuse, you know, to go - quit early, go to a museum, you know. So I do everything I can to make myself remember this is a job. I keep a schedule.
Robert CaroRead
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