I mean, every novel's a historical novel anyway. But calling something a historical novel seems to put mittens on it, right? It puts manners on it. And you don't want your novels to be mannered.
Colum MccannRead
We stumble on, thinks Jaslyn, bring a little noise into the silence, find in others the ongoing of ourselves. It is almost enough.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that our interactions with others help us discover our true selves amidst life's silence.
This quote implies that the act of connecting with others and making noise in an otherwise quiet existence is essential for self-discovery. It emphasizes the idea that through our relationships and shared experiences, we can find reflections of ourselves, contributing to our sense of purpose and belonging.
Themes
Self-DiscoveryConnectionReflectionRelationshipsSilenceNoise
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about the importance of community, I referenced this quote to highlight the value of our interactions.
More from Colum Mccann
All quotes βGoodness was more difficult than evil. Evil men knew that more than good men. That's why they became evil. That's why it stuck with them. Evil was for those who could never reach the truth. It was a mask for stupidity and lack of love. Even if people laughed at the notion of goodness, if they found it sentimental, or nostalgic, it didn't matter -- it was none of those things, he said, and it had to be fought for.
Colum MccannRead
She takes another long haul, lets the smoke settle in her lungs-- she has heard somewhere that cigarettes are good for grief. One long drag and you forget how to cry. The body too busy dealing with the poison.
Colum MccannRead
It was a silence that heard itself, awful and beautiful.
Colum MccannRead
It struck me that distant cities are designed precisely so you can know where you came from.
Colum MccannRead
And I suddenly think, as I look across the table at him, that these are the days as they will be. This is the future as we see it. The swerve and the static. The confidence and the doubt.
Colum MccannRead
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