If you have the guts to be yourself, other people'll pay your price.
John UpdikeRead
The essential support and encouragement comes from within, arising out of the mad notion that your society needs to know what only you can tell it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True encouragement and support stem from self-belief and the unique contributions we can make to society.
This quote by John Updike emphasizes the importance of internal motivation and the belief that each individual has valuable insights to offer to the world. It suggests that the drive to share one's unique perspective and knowledge comes from within, reinforcing the idea that personal confidence and a sense of purpose are essential in navigating societal expectations and making a meaningful impact.
Themes
Self-BeliefEncouragementSocietyUnique ContributionsMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to inspire creativity among young artists.
More from John Updike
All quotes βDost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of. _x000D_ _x000D_ Suspect each moment, for it is a thief, tiptoeing away with more than it brings.
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Museums and bookstores should feel, I think, like vacant lots - places where the demands on us are our own demands, where the spirit can find exercise in unsupervised play.
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But it is just two lovers, holding hands and in a hurry to reach their car, their locked hands a starfish leaping through the dark.
John UpdikeRead
The reader knows the writer better than he knows himself; but the writer's physical presence is light from a star that has moved on.
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To guarantee the individual maximum freedom within a social frame of minimal laws ensures - if not happiness - its hopeful pursuit.
John UpdikeRead
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