What makes literature interesting is that it does not survive its translation. The characters in a novel are made out of the sentences. That's what their substance is.

Summary

This quote implies that the essence and worth of literature cannot be fully captured or preserved when translated into another language. The characters in a novel derive their meaning and substance from the sentences they are constructed of. Their depth, complexity, and nuances may get lost or altered in translation, which adds to the allure and fascination of literature. The original language and the way it constructs characters and narratives offer a unique and untranslatable experience that cannot be replicated in other languages.

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