Joy (overflow)

Alma Thomas. "Autumn Leaves Fluttering in the Breeze" (1973)

 From A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, by George Saunders.

In other words, voice is not just an embellishment; it's an essential part of the truth. In "The Nose," we feel the narrator to be from that world of functionaries and petty official and we hear that in his voice, and the story benefits from this; told in this way, the story has an extra dimension of truth, and of joy.

It may be possible that, when all is said and done, that's what we're really looking for -- in a sentence, in a book: joy (overflow, ecstasy, intensity). An acknowledgment, in the prose, that all of this is too big to be spoken of, but also that death begins the moment we give up on trying to speak of it. (309)

A couple thoughts: first, the notion that "joy (overflow)" is what sparks life.  Second, that life is complex, messy and joyful, and it's "too big to be spoken of."  Third, that our choice is to speak of that thing that's too big to be spoken of, or else "death begins" that moment we give up trying.