To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters the meaning of the object photographed.
Joan DidionRead
A pool is, for many of us in the West, a symbol not of affluence but of order, of control over the uncontrollable. A pool is water, made available and useful, and is, as such, infinitely soothing to the western eye.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that a pool represents human mastery over nature and brings comfort to those in the West.
In this quote, Joan Didion emphasizes the symbolic significance of a pool in Western culture, viewing it not just as a luxury item but as a representation of order and control in an otherwise chaotic world. She highlights how the presence of a well-maintained pool provides a sense of calm and organization, allowing individuals to experience tranquility and comfort through the manipulation of natural elements, particularly water.
Themes
PoolWaterControlOrderCalmAffluence
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about urban design, one could reference this quote to highlight the importance of creating spaces that provide a sense of order.
More from Joan Didion
All quotes →The truth is, it's easier for me to write than talk... to express the state I'm in at any time.
Joan DidionRead
Memories are what you no longer want to remember.
Joan DidionRead
It was clear, for example, in 1988 that the political process had already become perilously remote from the electorate it was meant to represent.
Joan DidionRead
I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?
Joan DidionRead
Do not whine... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.
Joan DidionRead
Similar quotes
A feminist is any woman who tells the truth about her life
Virginia WoolfRead
A man is not aware of his virtues (if any). Nevertheless, one hopes that they exist.
Edward AbbeyRead
In a society where the roles everyone plays are obvious, the refusal to conform to any standard will excite interest. Be both masculine and feminine, impudent and charming, subtle and outrageous. Let other people worry about being socially acceptable; those types are a dime a dozen, and you are after a power greater than they can imagine.
Robert GreeneRead
A person who has not completely lost the memory of paradise, even though it is a faint one, will suffer endlessly. He will feel the call of the essential world, will hear the voice that comes from so far away that one cannot find out where it comes from, a voice that cannot guide him.
Eugene IonescoRead
A heathen philosopher once asked a Christian, 'Where is God'? The Christian answered, 'Let me first ask you, Where is He not?'
Aaron ArrowsmithRead
There have been men before who got so interested in proving the existence of God that they came to care nothing for God himself, as if the good Lord had nothing to do but to exist. There have been some who were so preoccupied with spreading Christianity that they never gave a thought to Christ.
C. S. LewisRead