It is a pity, in my opinion, that no prize exists for the writer who best refrains from adding to the world's bad books.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that writers should strive to avoid contributing to poor literature.
William Saroyan's quote highlights the unfortunate lack of recognition for writers who resist the temptation to produce subpar work. He expresses a desire for a system that honors those who choose quality over quantity in writing, emphasizing the value of thoughtful and meaningful contributions to literature.
In practice
Use this quote when discussing the importance of quality literature at a writer's workshop.
The purpose of writing is both to keep up with life and to run ahead of it. I am little comfort to myself, although I am the only comfort I have, excepting perhaps streets, clouds, the sun, the faces and voices of kids and the aged, and similar accidents of beauty, innocence, truth and loneliness.
San Francisco itself is art, above all literary art. Every block is a short story, every hill a novel. Every home a poem, every dweller within immortal. That is the whole truth.
I care so much about everything that I care about nothing.
I am interested in madness. I believe it is the biggest thing in the human race, and the most constant. How do you take away from a man his madness without also taking away his identity? Are we sure it is desirable for a man's spirit not to be at war with itself, or that it is better to be serene and ready to go to dinner than to be excited and unwilling to stop for a cup of coffee, even?
Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed.
Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough.
The problem with most genre fantasy is that it's not nearly fantastic enough. It's escapist, but it can't escape.
One always tends to overpraise a long book, because one has got through it.
All told, she owned fourteen books, but she saw her story as being made up predominantly of ten of them. Of those ten, six were stolen, one showed up at the kitchen table, two were made for her by a hidden Jew, and one was delivered by a soft, yellow-dressed afternoon.
People ask me if there are going to be stories of Harry Potter as an adult. Frankly, if I wanted to, I could keep writing stories until Harry is a senior citizen, but I don't know how many people would actually want to read about a 65 year old Harry still at Hogwarts playing bingo with Ron and Hermione.
Literature is a defense against the attacks of life. It says to life: You can't deceive me. I know your habits, foresee and enjoy watching all your reactions, and steal your secret by involving you in cunning obstructions that halt your normal flow.
All novels are sequels; influence is bliss.
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