Quote by Virginia Woolf
What one means by integrity, in the case of the novelist, is the conviction that he gives one that this is the truth. . . . When one so exposes it [integrity] and sees it come to life one exclaims in rapture, But this is what I have always felt and known and desired! And one boils over with excitement, and, shutting the book even with a kind of reverence as if it were something very precious, a stand-by to return to as long as one lives, one puts it back on the shelf.
Summary
This quote explains that integrity, in the context of a novelist, refers to the ability of a writer to authentically convey the truth. The expression of integrity in a novel can evoke a profound response from readers, who recognize and connect with the truths and desires that have resonated within them. The quote suggests that encountering such integrity in a book can be a deeply cherished experience, prompting excitement and reverence. This experience compels readers to revisit the book time and again, as it becomes a treasured source of comfort and inspiration throughout their lives.