We weren't listening to guitar bands, we were thoroughly ashamed of being a guitar band. So we bought loads of keyboards and learned how to use them, and when we got bored we went back to guitars.
Thom YorkeRead
I tell you what's really ridiculous--going into a bookstore and there's all these books about yourself. In a way, it feels like you're already dead.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the existential discomfort of seeing one's biography or stories in books, evoking feelings of detachment from life.
Thom Yorke's quote captures the peculiar sensation of encountering numerous books about oneself, which can evoke an unsettling realization of one's own mortality and legacy. It hints at the surreal experience of feeling like a spectator to one's life, as if one's experiences and identity are being cataloged while one remains detached from them, leading to a poignant reflection on existence and self-perception.
Themes
ExistenceMortalityIdentitySelfBooksDetachment
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the impact of autobiographies on the concept of identity.
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