Who said “The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is…”?

Verified

E. L. Doctorow. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceInterview in Writers at Work (1988)

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“The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is because we need witnesses to this terrifying century.”
— E. L. Doctorow
VerifiedInterview in Writers at Work (1988) · evidenceWriters and Writing
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Interview in Writers at Work (1988).

APA

Doctorow, E. L. (n.d.). The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is because we need witnesses to this terrifying century. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42855-the-writer-isnt-made-in-a-vacuum-writers/

MLA

Doctorow, E. L. “The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is because we need witnesses to this terrifying century.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42855-the-writer-isnt-made-in-a-vacuum-writers/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Doctorow, E. L. “The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is because we need witnesses to this terrifying century.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/42855-the-writer-isnt-made-in-a-vacuum-writers/.

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More quotes by E. L. Doctorow

“It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
VerifiedInterview in Writers at Work (1988) · evidenceDetails & citeCreativity
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“In the twentieth century one of the most personal relationships to have developed is that of the person and the state. It's become a fact of life that governments have become very intimate with people, most always to their detriment.”
VerifiedInterview in Writers at Work (1988) · evidenceDetails & citeState
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All 9 E. L. Doctorow quotes →