Writing is to descend like a miner to the depths of the mine with a lamp on your forehead, a light whose dubious brightness falsifies everything, whose wick is in permanent danger of explosion, whose blinking illumination in the coal dust exhausts and corrodes your eyes.

Summary

This quote highlights the demanding and intense nature of the writing process. It likens writing to descending into a mine with a lamp, illuminating the depths but casting an uncertain and potentially deceiving light. The continuous risk of its explosion metaphorically represents the fragility of one's creative ideas. Additionally, the blink of this light, amidst the coal dust, signifies the writer's struggle with exhaustion and the detrimental effects of immersing oneself deeply in the writing venture.

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