"In the writing of memoirs, as in the production of shows, too much caution causes the audience to nod and think of other channels"
About this Quote
The intent is a warning to anyone crafting an official narrative, especially a politician polishing a legacy. Over-caution reads like risk management, but it signals fear: fear of offending donors, of contradicting allies, of admitting vanity, compromise, or misjudgment. Memoirs built from that fear become curated press releases in hardcover, and people have learned how to consume those in the same way they consume bland TV: passively, while multitasking, without retention.
The subtext is that honesty is a rhetorical strategy, not only an ethical one. Showmanship here isn’t mere spectacle; it’s the discipline of holding attention by letting conflict, specificity, and rough edges remain visible. “Other channels” also points to a media ecosystem where attention is the only scarce resource. If you won’t narrate your own story with tension and candor, someone else will - and they’ll do it in a more watchable format.
Quote Details
| Topic | Writing |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Clarke, Gerald. (2026, January 17). In the writing of memoirs, as in the production of shows, too much caution causes the audience to nod and think of other channels. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-the-writing-of-memoirs-as-in-the-production-of-53106/
Chicago Style
Clarke, Gerald. "In the writing of memoirs, as in the production of shows, too much caution causes the audience to nod and think of other channels." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-the-writing-of-memoirs-as-in-the-production-of-53106/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"In the writing of memoirs, as in the production of shows, too much caution causes the audience to nod and think of other channels." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/in-the-writing-of-memoirs-as-in-the-production-of-53106/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
