Those close to [Patricia Highsmith], particularly her family, often commented on how Highsmith's vision of reality was a warped one. In April 1947, she transcribed into her notebook what was, presumably, a real dialogue between herself and her mother, in which Mary accused her of not facing the world. Highsmith replied that she did indeed view the world 'sideways, but since the world faces reality sideways, sideways is the only way the world can be looked at in true perspective.' The problem, Highsmith said, was that her psychic optics were different to those around her, but if that was the case, her mother replied, then she should equip herself with a pair of new spectacles. Highsmith was not convinced. 'Then I need a new birth, ' she concluded. Andrew Wilson
About This Quote

The quote is about the human perception of the world. It’s about how people are not able to see things as they are. People can be blinded by their own perspectives, so they cannot see what is really happening around them. As I said earlier, the quote is about the human perception of the world.

Source: Patricia Highsmith, I-II Ifi"I IfioiI"IIi1

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