A Writer’s Purpose? Whew!
August 18, 2008 by Anne Wayman
Filed under Jobs
(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
I was looking for a quote about writing books I could use. At Wisdom Quotes / Writing/Writers Quotes I found this:
The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.
It’s by Albert Camus – and a google search on the quote reveals something like 88,000 entries… it’s quoted a lot it seems.
So writers, how do we keep civilization from destroying itself?
Write well and often,
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Wow! Great quote! I think one significant way we try to keep destruction at bay is through perspective. Writers force others to evaluate the actual significance of ideas that sometimes seem overly significant at first glance. We like to put things into perspective for ourselves and others.
I don’t think it is simply through illustrating perspective. Writers must also look ahead, peering into the future and illuminate the fantastic.
We question. We enhance the world’s view or we simply show readers another side.
Providing perspective, asking questions, two great responses!
I don’t think we can keep civilization from destroying itself lol.
If I can make even one person *think*, then I feel I have done my job.