"To write is human, to edit, divine."
This quote emphasizes the unique combination of creativity and refinement inherent in both writing and editing. Writing is a fundamentally human act, as it reflects our ability to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Editing, on the other hand, suggests a higher level of intervention, polishing, and perfecting that brings a piece closer to perfection or divine standards. In essence, Wilfrid Sheed is suggesting that there's a divine aspect in transforming raw, human creativity into something refined, meaningful, and powerful through the editing process.
"There's a big difference between being controversial and saying something worth hearing."
Wilfrid Sheed's quote emphasizes that while it's possible for anyone to create controversy, not everything controversial is valuable or important. In other words, merely provoking disagreement or shock does not equate to making a meaningful contribution to a conversation or debate. To be impactful and truly worth hearing, ideas must be substantive, well-reasoned, and add something of value to the discourse.
"Television has brought back murder into the home, so it has abolished at least one room."
Wilfrid Sheed's quote highlights a shift in societal norms that occurred with the advent of television. He suggests that while television provides entertainment, its content—often violent or dark—has penetrated domestic spaces, making violence and crime a part of people's daily lives, even if only through passive consumption. In essence, he is pointing out that TV has made it impossible to escape the harsh realities of the world, as murder and other criminal activities were once confined to public spheres.
"A critic is a man who knows the way but can't drive the car."
This quote suggests that a critic has the ability to analyze, evaluate, or critique something (knowing the way), but lacks the skill or power to actively participate in creating it (driving the car). In other words, a critic can recognize what is good or bad about an art form or piece of work, but may not have the talent to produce it themselves. The quote implies that a true understanding and appreciation of creative works comes from both critical analysis and practical experience.
"In writing, as in sports, it's not enough to break records - you have to make records."
This quote by Wilfrid Sheed emphasizes the importance of not just achieving greatness or breaking previous achievements (records), but also setting new standards and pushing boundaries in writing (or any creative field). It suggests that simply meeting existing expectations is insufficient, one must strive to create something fresh and groundbreaking to truly make a lasting impact.
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