Quote by Raymond Chandler
There are people who can write their memoirs with a reasonable amount of honesty, and there are people who simply cannot take themselves seriously enough. I think I might be the first to admit that the sort of reticence which prevents a man from exploiting his own personality is really an inverted sort of egotism.
Summary
This quote suggests that there are two types of people when it comes to writing memoirs. The first type can objectively and honestly reflect on their lives and experiences while writing their memoir. The second type lacks the ability to take themselves seriously enough to write an authentic memoir. The quote also presents the idea that the reluctance to explore and expose one's own personality is actually a form of self-centeredness, as it prevents the individual from sharing an intimate and genuine account of their life.