"Of course the illusion of art is to make one believe that great literature is very close to life, but exactly the opposite is true. Life is amorphous, literature is formal"

Françoise Sagan's quote touches on the relatively paradoxical relationship in between life and literature. At first glance, literature, especially excellent literature, appears to mirror life carefully, providing readers extensive reflections and insights into human experiences, feelings, and histories. The illusion Sagan describes is the ability of art-- particularly literature-- to make us believe that the narrative structures, character developments, and psychological journeys penned by authors are direct reflections of our own lives.

Nevertheless, Sagan counters this concept by asserting that the real nature of life is significantly different from the structured world of literature. Life is "amorphous", unforeseeable, and does not have the nicely tied arcs and moral conclusions typically found in literary works. Truth is filled with chaos, randomness, and events that don't quickly comply with a narrative structure. In contrast, literature is "official". It is crafted with intent, structure, and intentional style.

Authors take the raw product of life-- the mayhem and unpredictability-- and mold it into a coherent and meaningful story. They utilize literary strategies and structures to develop a narrative that, while influenced by life, is eventually a constructed truth within its own right. This building offers readers a sense of order and understanding that real life seldom provides.

The quote suggests that while literature can provide profound insights into life, it ought to not be mistaken for life itself. It highlights the creative procedure and the artistic manipulation that enters into changing life's intricacies into an artwork. This improvement is what lends literature its power: the capability to boil down, highlight, and amplify truths about the human condition that might otherwise stay obscured in the unpredictability of everyday existence.

Therefore, Sagan's reflection invites readers to value the artistry and craftsmanship behind literature, acknowledging its roots in life but comprehending its nature as an artistic construct that supplies clarity and insight through its extremely formality.