Quote by Haruki Murakami
Like most novelists, I like to do exactly the opposite of what I'm told. It's in my nature as a novelist. Novelists can't trust anything they haven't seen with their own eyes or touched with their own hands. (Jerusalem Prize acceptance speech, JERUSALEM POST, Feb. 15, 2009)
Summary
This quote by American novelist J.M. Coetzee highlights the rebellious nature of novelists. By stating that they like to do the opposite of what they are told, he suggests that novelists have an inherent inclination to challenge norms and break conventions. They rely on personal experiences and firsthand knowledge, emphasizing the importance of authenticity in their work. Coetzee implies that novelists are skeptical of accepting information blindly and instead rely on their own perception in order to create truthful and impactful storytelling.