How Literature Saved My Life

Here, right now, this is gorgeous. Please let’s keep it so. As soon as I think/say this, I’ve ruined paradise.

The Moment Passes Paradise Lost Lost When Found

Most novelists have only one story to tell and that, in book after book, they ring endless changes on a single essential narrative.

— David Shields, amazon.com

One Message I'll Try Again And Again Finding The Right Words Same Story Only One Story

There is no wisdom, only many wisdoms— beautiful and delusional.

— David Shields, amazon.com

Polytheism Logic Against Logic Scientific Perspectivism

Write yourself naked, from exile, and in blood.

— David Shields, amazon.com

Writing Writing Strategies Writing with Blood

The purpose of art is to transfer feeling from one person’s heart to another person’s heart.

— David Shields, amazon.com

Purpose of Art Art My Heart To Your Heart IWroteThis4You 107 Of The Greatest Single Sentences In Literature

In life, in love, otherness is sexy but unbridgeable.

— David Shields, amazon.com

The Unbridgeable Love Sex Longing

Movies love to imply that the man and woman held each other all night long, but you can’t do it. You have to roll away.

— David Shields, amazon.com

real love Love

The Greek word eros denotes 'want,' 'lack,' 'desire for that which is missing.' The lover wants what he doesn’t have.

— David Shields, amazon.com

Word Orgins Eros Love

We are all so afraid. We are all so alone. We all so need from the outside the assurance of our own worthiness to exist.

— David Shields, amazon.com

Alone Love Sad

In college, reading all those Greek tragedies and listening to the lectures about them, I would think, rather blithely, 'Well, that tragic flaw thing is nicely symmetrical: whatever makes Oedipus heroic is also—' What did I know then? Nothing. I didn’t feel in my bones as I do now that what powers o…

— David Shields, amazon.com

Identity Oedipus

K WWW K K&MMWWMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&&K K && && K KKKKKKK WW KK WWW & &MWWWWMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&&KKK K& KKKKK KKKKK KK K KK WWW K &MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&&&&K KK K&K KKK&&&&KKK KKKKKKKKKK K KK MWWK KKMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&&&& MKK KKKKKK&KKKK&&&KKKKKKK&&&KK WW KKKK WWK &M& MWWMM&MWWWWWWWWWWMWWWWWWWWMWM&KK K K &K KK KK KKK&&&&KK KKK&&KKK KM KKKK KM &WM& K&MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMM&K & KKKK K KKK&&K& KK&&KK MW KK K K&&MMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMK &KK K K&&&&K KKKKK&&K&&KK KKK K KK&K&&MMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&&M&&&&&& &K K&&&&&K KKKK&&&&&KK WW K KKK& K&&&K&MMWWMWWWWWWWWMMWWWWWWWW&&&&KKK&K K& K&&&&K KKKKK&&&&&KKK WM KKKKKK KKKK &MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMM&& & K&&KKK KKKK&&&&&&&&&KKK KKKK WM KK KKKKKKKKK K KK &&MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&&&& & KKK KK K&MM&&&&&&KKKKKKKKK K WM KK K KK K K &&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW&KWM& WWWWM &K K KK K&&&&&KKKKKKK KKKKK KK K KK K &MWMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW& KK MWW MKKKK KK&&KK KKKK KKKKKK KKKKK KKKKK K KMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMWWWWWWWWWW KWMWWM& W KKKKKKK&&&&KK K K KKKK KKKK K K KK&KK K MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW&WWWWWWM K& WMWWWWW W &&&&KKK&&K&KKK&&KKKK KKK K KKKK&&K K&WWWWWWWMWWM &WWWWMK WWWWWW&WK&&&KK K KK&&&&&K KMMW K &MWWWW&& &WWWWW&W& &KK K KK&&MMMMK WWWWW MMWM &WWWWWK M WWWWW W &&K KK&MMWMK M&W W &WWWWWKKW & &M& WWWW&WW &&&K KK&&K&M&K WM K WW KW KWWWWW&&MWM &WWWW& & K&&& &WW WWK&&& KKKK KK WWW KWWWWWWW&MWWW MWWWW&M&KMKK KMMMMMWMM &WW W K&&K K&K K WW MM KMWWWW&KK&M&WWWWWWMWWWWWWWWWW&K WW&W K&&K KKKKKK W &WWW MMWWMMK KKMWWWWMKK K&WWWWMM&&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW& WWMW &&& KKKK W M KWWWWWM M&WWWWWMWWWWMM& K WWWWWWMM&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW& WWMWW &&&K KK&K K W MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW& K&WWWWWWMMMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW& MWWWWK&MM& K&&KK WW KWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW &MWWWWWWM&&MWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMWWMK &WWWM&MWW& KK W WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWM KMWWWWWWM&&M&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWM&& KW W&MWWM WMMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWW KMWWWWWWM&&&MMWWWWWWWWWWWWW&K && W&WWMK K&WWWWWWWWWWWWWW K KMWWWWWWM&MWMWM&MWWWWWWWWMM KM MWW& KKKKKKK KKWWWWWWWWWWWWM MMK &WWWWWWWWWWWM&WW MWWWMMMM &&KMWWWM KKKKK MWWWWWWWWWWMW& K&M&&WWWWWWWWW&K WWWW& &MM&&K W&MWWW& KKK KK MMWWWWWWWMMWWM K&MW&&&K WWWWWWWW M&MWWM K&&&&&&&&K MWWWWWK WWWWW WWWW& MWMWWM KK&&&&&&&&K MMM& KW&MWMK & WWWW& &&&MMMMMM&&& && M M K&WM & &KWWWM K&&M&&&MMMM&K &M M KMMW K& WMMM& KW K MWW&

.: ,., .: . , . .::,., , , ::,., : : ,:, , . . : : ,,. , , ,. : ... , , :, : ,: .. , , : : :: :, :: . , .,.: , . ::, : , : ...:,:::: ., :::: , ..., , .,:,., : :::,: , ...: ... , : ::::: :. ..., : .. ,.. .,,: : :::::: :. ..., .. ,. .,:: : : , : :::::: :. ..., . .,,,,: : , ,. , : ::::::: :. ..., .. ..,,::: :: . , : ::::::: :. ...: ,,:,:::,: : ,. , : :.: ::::::: : , , . .,,,:::::, .,,:,., : , : :, : :::,::: , . .,:::,, ::. .. , : ,,: . , :::::: , . , , ,,: :, ,,,. . . :,,: ::::::: , ,: ,...,: : , , : , ::: ::::::: : . : ,,,:.,,.,: ,, : ,: ::::::: : :::::: : , : , , ,,: ,: :,. ...,: :::::: , : , : .. .,, ,. .,: ::::::: :, , . : : ,....., , .,:: :::::: :. , : ,....,,: :. ...,,: :::::: :. , , :. : ,, , ....,:: :::::: :. , : ,. : .. .., ., , : :. ..,.,:: ::::: :. ,: : , .,.: ..: :: :: , ,,,,:: :::: : :. ,: : . . . .: . , .,,,: :::: :. .: : ,.,, .: . ,,,, :::: : :. .: : , ,:, ,:: . .: :. : : ,::,: : :::: :. .: :.,. . ,., . . . .::: :::: :. .: ,::. .,:,: : . : .: . : ::: :. ,: ,,: .,:, :. , . : : . .: : : :: :. ,: :,,, ..,::, ,: : ::,: . : :: :. ,: .,,... ,,:, . :. . : , : .

*<* }}}}}}*<~~~<<~* * ~ ~<* * }*} }}}}}}}*<<<***<< ~<} ~} } < *} }}}}}}*******<< ~<} ~<} * }* ~ }} }}*******~} ~<}} ~}*<** } } * <} }}}******<~* ~< ~ ~*<~~~} }* < * <} } }*****}*~< ~ ~<}~ <*~~ } * <} }***}}*<~* ~ ~<}~ ~ ~ < *< }} * * } ~* }}*}**<* ~ ~<}* <<~~ ~*} *~ } ~* }}*****}}* ~<} ~~~}}} }} } ~} }}***~ ~<*}} ~<*} *}***}} }* < }**~ ~<*} ~~ <<**<* ** * ~} }< ~<**} <}*}}}} }} *< < * }< ~<**}} ~}}*~*} ~ }}*<} <} *< ~<*** }* *} ~ <*}} * }*~ ~<*** ~ * < *~~*} < ~~~ ~*}}} < }*~ ~<***} ~< ~ < } } * * *< < }*~ }} ~ < * < <~} } }}< }}}}}}} ~} }*~ ~}}~~} ~ ~ ~ } ~ < ~< *< }*<<<***}*}***}}} ~~* }*<~ }~ } ~~<~ *~ ~~ } ~~ < ~ *< < ~<} *<* }**<~~~~<<<*******} ~* }*<~ }~~<~ *}< <* ~}* *< }* ~< *< * *<<<~ ~~<<*****}} } ~* }*<~ } * ~<}<~** ~<~*< ~} *~ <<} *<~ *<<<~~ ~ ~~~<* }}}}} ~~* }*<~ } < <* } }}} } }<<< ~** < }<~<<<~~ <**} }}}}} ~~* }*<~ * } ~<* <~* *<} *<**<<<~ ~<} }}}}} ~* }< * } < ~} *<< ~ }<****<<~ ~<} ~ ~* }< ~ *~ }} * * }*<* }* }*<****<~ ~~<} ~~* *< ~} }* <~ ~} }}<< ~ *<<****<~ ~~< ~<} }*< ~** < ~ < }<~ < } }<<<***<< ~~~*} } ~~< }*< <}*~ } } } * } <* ~ <~<*<<<<~ ~~~<* }}} ~ ~* }*< <}}} < < < ~ <} < *} }*< <~<*****<~ ~~~~~~* }}} ~~~* *< <*}}< <~}< <<} ~} * } }< *~<**}}}*<~ ~~<<~~~* ~ < }< <}}*}< ~<*~ ~} * ** < <<<*}}}}*< <<<~~~~* * ~ * *< <****} *~~~ ~*} ~ ~ ~ < } *<*~~ *~**}} }< ~~<<<~~~~* }~ ~ ~} *~ <****}}}}}**~ < } < ~}<*~ }*} *<<*}} }< ~~~<<<<~~~<<} } }< ~ < *~ <******}**}}} ~<} }} ~~ ~ << ~}~< ~< ~} ~ *}<*} <<*}} }*~ <<<****<<~~<<} }}} * ~ ~} }*~ <***********} ~} * } ~ <~ ~<} *<*}<}< * * <<< *<*}} }~ *******<~<~~<<} } }~ ~ ~* }*< <***********}* ~} }~} }< < ~~} * <~ } * *<} < ***}}}**<~<<~~<} }<

joVUU Vjjj U o jV UojjVjUU U U UVUo VVVVVVVVoooojjoojjooVUVUVUUVVVVVVUU U UVVj oVo joVU Uoj V j o jo joo jUU UojoV UVVVoVVoVVooooVooVVU UVUVoooUU U UUVoVj VVoo jooVU UVoo j V j jo jjVjoV o UUVUUj V UVVoVVoVVVVooVVUU UUUV UVooVoV oVo jooVoUU UVojjjj jVo j jj UUVo jVj UVoooVVoooooVU UVVVVo oVo jjoVVU Uoojj U j joVVj o VoojU UV UVVVooVVVVVVUUUU U U U UVVVVVo oVo jjVVU Vojjj j j U jjVo ojj VoUoVjoo V VoVoVVVVU UUUUUUUU U UoVU VoVoooVo joj ooUUU VVVoooooj o V j Vj o UVUUU jVo j oVoooVVU UVVUU VUVV VVoVooooojoj jj joVUU UUUVVVVUUUoj joj o UVoVUUoj VUVoooooV UoVoVV UVUUVVVUVVoooooVo oo oVUUUUVU UU UVj j ojoV j V o UVVVVooVU UUVooVU UVUVUUUVVoVoVVj oVV VVU U UVojjjj jV UUUoV Vo UooVUUUU UUVooVoUU U UUUUUo V jVV U VVoooVooj j oUVo U ooUj Uj VU U UUVVVVVVVVVVUU U UU V U VUU U UUU UUVooooVVVoj UU o VU ojj V V U VUUUU UVUVVUUU U UUUUVU V V U UUU UUUVojoooVVUoj VVVU V U o UV UUUVVVVU UUUU UU VUUUUU VVUVU VVjjjjooVVVj o V UV U j U UUU U UUVVUVU UUU U UUUVUUV jVV U UVojjjooooo j joj V U j Uo o V UUVVUU UUUVUUUU UUUUVUVV jVU UUVooojoooj o j Uj j jj j UUUVVooVVVUU UUUVVVVVVVVoooVVVUUUUUUUUVoV jVVU UVooVVooj j Vo oU V jU o o U o U UUVVoj joojojjjjjjojjoVoVUUUUU UVoojo ooV VVooVojj j o o V j U V U VVVjj jjjjooooVUVUUUUUUVVooo ooUU UVooVoj o U j o V Vj U Vj joVVojooVVoVVVVVVoojjo VVV ooooooj j j Uj j Uoo UUo oU V j Uoj jooooooooVVVoVooj jjjo ooU U UVoooojjj jV j U j U V U U Vj jVVojoooooVVVooj j oVV U UUUoojjjjjj V UV jUUVj oVo j Vo j V j ojj o o oojoooooVVVoj j oVU UVoojjjjjj V oj U U oj j UV Vj ooVVVooVVoo jj ooVU UUUVojjjoooj j Uj U V j U j o V o ojoVoooVVoojjjjjjj ooU U UUVojjjoUVj U Uj o j V jjoooVoVoojjjjoooo ojV UUUVoojoVVVo o U U j o jjjooooooojjjjjoojj VoUU UUVUUUVojooVo U o U U jjoooooojjj jjoooj jVoUVVVVVVVUVVoooooo o j V V j j j jjjooooojj jooooo oVVUUUUUUUUUVojoooVo j o jV Uo j U UjU o jjjooooo jjoooooo VVUU UVojjooVoj j o U V U Uj V jjjoVVojjjjjooooooj jVoUUU UUVoojooVoj o o V j jjjVooojjjjooooooj oUUU U UVUojoojoVoj j U UUV o jjj jojooojjjjjoVVooj Uo VoojjoVVoj o U V jU j jUj V jjj oooojj jjjoooVoo jUU UooooVVoj V jo oVV j V o j jjo ojoj jjoooVVoj VV UVVooooo Uj UV o j o jo jooj o o jooo jjjj jjooVVVVVo oU UVVooooj o V j VU U U U jj j V j j o jjoVUVj ojojjjooVUVVVo

W K&&MWMWWWWMM&K & W &&MWMWWWWMM& K & &MWWWWWWMM&K K K K K &&MMMWMM&&M&K K KK & KMWWWWWWWWWWWW&KK KK K&MWWWWW&MWW W& KK KK &W& WWM K& K WW WMM W K&KMK WM KKKKKM&M MKK K &WWMMWMW& MW&&WWWWWMWK WM K M WWWWWWWW MM&KMWWWWM& M&M KMWWWW MWW&&&KWWM& MK &WWWM &M& WM &M KK & MM KW KKK& K MM&&K K M KKKK&K W KWW KK KK && K WW KWW& K KK &W WWWMMWWWWM & && M& W& KWWWWMW& K WWW& M& &WWM K &&&MM KK WWWW WWWWM WWWWWW WWWMWW WWWWWWWWK MMWWWWW&W& W&WWWWWWWWW& WWMW&&&MMM& W WKMWMMM&WWW&&WM WW MK&& KKKK& KW M K&KKKK& & MWK & &WMW K K && W WWW M K W W WWWWWWWMW MWWWWWKW W&WWWWWWMWWWW W WWWWWWWWW WW W WW MW W WW WW W WK WW M W WWW W M & K&W

: , . , , , : : : . ,, : :: . . , :: : ,, :: : ::: : ,:,,,,. , : . ::: .. . : :, , . ::: , :..,: ::: :, .: . ::: :, . : ..: :: : . : . :: :: : ., : . :: : : . :: . , . : : ,. :: , , . : ., , , , . , : . . ., . .. , . . . , :::, :. .. ,, :::: : , : :,., , . . , : .,,:::::: .: : . , ,. : , : : : : ., . ...,, :::: . .. : :,. :,. : . : .,: ,. : :.. ,,::, ,: ::, :::,:,::,, ..,, ,,,. ,: ::.. .,,.. . . .. , . .... ,. ,, . , : : : . , . : :: :.: ::,: . . . : . . ,,,::: :,

* }}*<*~ ~ * }}**< ~< *< * ~ ***< <~ < * * } < }}*} ~ <~} } * ~ ~}} * ~ * }< *< ~ <}< < ~ ~<*}} } }< ~ ~ ~ * ~< < ~ *~~*}*} } }< < <} * }}* ~} ~ <<~ } *} } ~ < < * }**< ~} ~ ~< } * * <**~ ~} ~ ~ ~}** < * <*** <~ } < ~ }}<< } * *} < < }<} * <<~ } ~ } }~ ***}} <}} <~< < <} ***<< } < }~ ****} <~<< }< * } <} }}}<<< < ~ } ~**<*} ~~ }< * << * < *}}<<<< * * ~<<<<* ~}~~** *<* ~ * ~} }<~<<< } * }< ~~~<~~< ~~ } * * * }*~~<~~< < } < ~~ < *} <*~ ~~~ < } } }}} }} *< ~ } }< }}}}}}<~ <}*< **< ~ ** ~ }* ** ****}}* * ~< <}}*< ~~~~<~ } <~ ~*<*<< < < ~~~ ~ < * ~ * * ~ }}}} * }*} } * < ~~ ~ *} <~ ~ * ~ * < < ~ } *} }* } < <**~~ } ~ <<****<~~ ~ ~ * * ~ }~ < ~

jVVj U o UojV UUUV VooojjjoUUVooVUUUVjUj joVVVj j oooV UVVVj UUoooooUUUUUUVUUUVoo j joVVjjj jUVV VoVo oooUUVVVVU UoVUVjoj oVVVV V j jjV UUVo UooU UojoUU UVVVojo o VUUVVooVo j VoU o UUVUVoVVVVV UUUUUVVUV oVVUVjjVo Uo U oUUU UUUUVVUVVUVVVV jVU ojoj VVV V j UUVojjjVoojoooVVVVj oU Voo o o V V V j o jj UUj joooooojj VUVUojj j j U U U V oooooj oUVVojoj o V V V jooojjj joUVVojVj V U U joojjoo oVVVVojVj j U UV UV jooo joo VVUUVojVj j o VV j j joojjoV VU UooV U jj U o j U jj jj joVV U UVoo V o V o o U VU jjjVUU V ooV U jj jo o jjU joVVUV UoVV V jo V oo U j jV oVVoooVVVU o o j jj V o VVoooooU o V o Uj j jjjj U j jU V o jj j jV j o U o UU o VV U joU o V VVj jjojjUU UUj jjj jjVo oVVoVUV jj V UV j U U VU U jjj j o U U