"I can't change the past, and I don't think I would. I don't expect to be understood. I like what I've written, the stories and two novels. If I had to give up what I've written in order to be clear of this disease, I wouldn't do it"

Harold Brodkey's quote speaks to the power of his composing and his hesitation to offer it up, even in the face of a deadly health problem. He acknowledges that he can not alter the past, and that he might not be understood for his choice. He expresses his pride in his work, and his belief that it deserves more than his own life. He wants to accept the effects of his disease, however he will not quit his writing. This quote speaks with the power of art and the importance of developing something that will outlast us. It is a pointer that our work can be a source of strength and solace, even in the face of adversity. It is a testimony to the power of the human spirit and the importance of creating something that will survive on after we are gone.