The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.
Don DelilloRead
He'd once told me that the art of getting ahead in New York was based on learning how to express dissatisfaction in an interesting way. The air was full of rage and complaint. People had no tolerance for your particular hardship unless you knew how to entertain them with it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success in New York depends on how well you can communicate your discontent in an engaging manner.
This quote by Don Delillo reflects the idea that in a fast-paced and competitive environment like New York, simply expressing dissatisfaction is not enough. One must learn to do so in a way that captivates and entertains others, transforming personal hardship into a narrative that resonates with the audience, thereby gaining empathy and potentially success.
Themes
New YorkDissatisfactionCommunicationSuccessEntertainment
In practice
Example use cases
During a networking event, you could use this quote to illustrate the importance of storytelling when discussing challenges.
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[I]n the American soul there is a lonely individual standing in a vast landscape. He is either on a horse or driving a car, depending, and either way he’s carrying a gun. This is one of the essential images in American mythology.
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