“The self is also a creation, the principal work of your life, the crafting of which makes everyone an artist.”

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Meaning

The quote suggests that a person’s identity is not fixed, but something actively shaped over time. It compares self-making to an art form, saying that everyone is engaged in creating who they are. It also implies that this process is central to a meaningful life.

When It Was Said

Not documented yet.

Who It Was Said To

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Historical Context

Not documented yet.

Source

The Faraway Nearby (2013)

Original Language & Translation

Originally said in English.

Did They Really Say It?

The phrase appears in the book "The Faraway Nearby (2013)" by Rebecca Solnit (Google Books snippet); no earlier source was checked.

Did You Know?

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About Rebecca Solnit

American writer and activist

Rebecca Solnit is an American writer and activist. She writes about feminism, the environment, politics, place, and art. Her work ranges across essays and commentary on public life, with recurring attention to how people move through the world and how ideas shape it. She is also known for writing on land, landscape, and culture, bringing together personal observation and social critique.

More from Rebecca Solnit (189 quotes) →

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Books by Rebecca Solnit

Men Explain Things To Me

2014

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Wanderlust

2000

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Hope in the Dark

2004

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The Mother of all Questions

2017

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Whose Story Is This?

2019

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