'The Company You Keep' is about outgrowing not just the delusions that accompany youth but the harsh certainties driving our lives and then trapping them before the years outpace the velocity of our dreams.

Steve Erickson’s quote about his novel The Company You Keep explores the idea of outgrowing certain personal beliefs and societal constructs. He suggests that the story revolves around the process of moving beyond the delusions and naive assumptions that often come with youth. These illusions about the world can cloud one’s judgment and inhibit growth. As individuals mature, they are confronted with the need to recognize and shed these illusions in order to progress in life.

The quote also touches on the harsh certainties that define much of adult life—these are the rigid beliefs or expectations that people cling to as they grow older. These certainties can often become limitations, trapping individuals in a cycle where their dreams and aspirations are confined by reality. Erickson reflects on how these certainties might restrict a person’s ability to evolve, urging them to confront and possibly relinquish these fixed ideas before they become all-consuming.

Erickson emphasizes the urgency of this process, referring to the risk of letting time or the years outpace one's dreams. The metaphor of velocity in relation to dreams suggests that as people age, their ability to act on their ambitions can slow down, with the weight of responsibility, conformity, or self-doubt preventing them from achieving their goals. The tension between youthful dreams and the limitations of adulthood is central to the theme of the novel, urging readers to consider the balance between ambition and the reality of growing older.

Ultimately, Erickson’s quote speaks to the inner conflict of maturing: the need to reconcile youthful ideals with the practicalities and constraints of adult life. The novel is a reflection on how we navigate this tension, exploring the possibility of outgrowing limiting beliefs and finding freedom before time accelerates beyond our ability to catch up with our dreams.