Out in the world not much happened. But here in the special night, a land bricked with paper and leather anything might happen, always did.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the transformative power of imagination in a creative environment.
Ray Bradbury evokes a sense of wonder and limitless possibilities within the creative space he describes. While the external world may seem unchanging and mundane, the 'special night' represents a realm where creativity thrives, and anything can spring to life from the depths of imagination, symbolized by the 'land bricked with paper and leather.' This highlights the importance of artistic expression and the boundless nature of creativity as a sanctuary away from the ordinary.
In practice
This quote can be shared at an art exhibition to inspire young artists.
I've written about 2,000 short stories; I've only published 300 and I feel I'm still learning. Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he'll eventually make some kind of career for himself as a writer. Ray Bradbury, 1967 interview (Doing the Math - that means for every story he sold, he wrote six "un-publishable" ones. Keep typing!)
I never went to college, so I went to the library.
There must be something in books, something we canβt imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You donβt stay for nothing.
I think the sun is a flower, That blooms for just one hour.
The first thing a writer should be is - excited. He should be a thing of fevers and enthusiasms. Without such vigor, he might as well be out picking peaches or digging ditches; God knows it'd be better for his health.
You can't try to do things; you simply must do them.
Some split between the inner world and outer world is common to all behaviour, and the need to bridge the gap is the source of creative behaviour.
I don't think one should be comfortable standing on a stage with people applauding and laughing at every stupid thing you say.
I certainly had no feeling for harmony, and Schoenberg thought that that would make it impossible for me to write music. He said, 'You'll come to a wall you won't be able to get through.' So I said, 'I'll beat my head against that wall.'
For me, electronic music is like cooking: it's a sensual organic activity where you can mix ingredients.
What I really like is an intelligent review. It doesn't have to be positive. A review that has some kind of insight, and sometimes people say something that's startling or is so poignant.
Dresses that are truly beautiful are never unfashionable.
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