Now I began to understand art as a kind of black box the reader enters. He enters in one state of mind and exits in another. The writer gets no points just because what's inside the box bears some linear resemblance to "real life" -- he can put whatever he wants in there. What's important is that something undeniable and nontrivial happens to the reader between entry and exit.
George SaundersOne of the sad things about this political season is that it allows [requires] us to get behind our big "Liberal" or "Conservative" banner and forget, for a time, that the big problems in our country have been around a long time and have been batted back and forth, caused and exacerbated, by both sides, and are more spiritual or ethical than [merely] political.
George SaundersPositive human action is not only possible, but pervasive; human beings can improve and choose light and so on. And this is all happening.
George SaundersThat's the only way that I can figure out how to live, is to say, "Well, I don't know what this adds up to, but I can do the best I can."
George Saunders