Quotes by Novelist | Beyond Motive 10/344

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Quotes by Novelist

"Poverty was an ornament on a learned man like a red ribbon on a white horse."

"Poverty was an ornament on a learned man like a red ribbon on a white horse."

Anzia Yezierska, Polish Novelist

25

"I am tempted to think that to be despised by her sex is a very great compliment to a woman."

"I am tempted to think that to be despised by her sex is a very great compliment to a woman."

Margaret Atwood, Canadian Novelist

Gender, Compliment, Praise, Wit

25

"The cleverest of all, in my opinion, is the man who calls himself a fool at least once a month."

"The cleverest of all, in my opinion, is the man who calls himself a fool at least once a month."

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Russian Novelist

Fool, Man, Opinion

25

"What frightens us most in a madman is his sane conversation."

"What frightens us most in a madman is his sane conversation."

Anatole France, French Novelist

25

"The deplorable mania of doubt exhausts me. I doubt about everything, even my doubts."

"The deplorable mania of doubt exhausts me. I doubt about everything, even my doubts."

Gustave Flaubert, French Novelist

25

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."

Ernest Hemingway, American Novelist

25

"There is no subject so old that something new cannot be said about it."

"There is no subject so old that something new cannot be said about it."

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Russian Novelist

25

"Prior to penicillin and medical research, death was an everyday occurrence. It was intimate."

"Prior to penicillin and medical research, death was an everyday occurrence. It was intimate."

Katherine Dunn, American Novelist

Death, Medical, Research

25

"The most shocking fact about war is that its victims and its instruments are individual human beings, and that these individual beings are condemned by the monstrous conventions of politics to murder or be murdered in quarrels not their own."

"The most shocking fact about war is that its victims and its instruments are individual human beings, and that these individual beings are condemned by the monstrous conventions of politics to murder or be murdered in quarrels not their own."

Aldous Huxley, English Novelist

Politics, War, Fact, Murder

25

"What is worst about America was acted out. What is best in America doesn't export."

"What is worst about America was acted out. What is best in America doesn't export."

Robert Stone, American Novelist

Commentary, America

25

"Andy Warhol is the only genius I've ever known with an I.Q. of 60."

"Andy Warhol is the only genius I've ever known with an I.Q. of 60."

Gore Vidal, American Novelist

25

"Actually, I enjoy the process of writing a big long novel."

"Actually, I enjoy the process of writing a big long novel."

Donna Tartt, American Novelist

25

"The most beautiful words in the English language are 'not guilty'."

"The most beautiful words in the English language are 'not guilty'."

Maxim Gorky, Russian Novelist

Legal, English, Language, Words

25

"On the other hand, I mean, that is what writers have always been supposed to do, was to rely on their own devices and to - I mean, writing is a lonely business."

"On the other hand, I mean, that is what writers have always been supposed to do, was to rely on their own devices and to - I mean, writing is a lonely business."

Donna Tartt, American Novelist

Business, Lonely, Writers, Writing

25

"Literature precedes genre."

"Literature precedes genre."

Rick Moody, American Novelist

25

"Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe."

"Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe."

Anatole France, French Novelist

Nature, Harmony, Man, Universe

25

"Sometimes love is stronger than a man's convictions."

"Sometimes love is stronger than a man's convictions."

Isaac Bashevis Singer, American Novelist

25

"I fancied I had some constancy of mind because I could bear my own sufferings, but found through the sufferings of others I could be weakened like a child."

"I fancied I had some constancy of mind because I could bear my own sufferings, but found through the sufferings of others I could be weakened like a child."

Sarah Fielding, British Novelist

Constancy, Mind

25

"The mind cannot live in nature, only against nature, only as its counterpart."

"The mind cannot live in nature, only against nature, only as its counterpart."

Hermann Hesse, German Novelist

Duality, Mind, Nature, Conflict, Opposition

25

"Nico studied his face " his sea-green eyes, his grin, his ruffled black hair. Somehow Percy Jackson seemed like a regular guy now, not a mythical figure. Not someone to idolize or crush on."

"Nico studied his face " his sea-green eyes, his grin, his ruffled black hair. Somehow Percy Jackson seemed like a regular guy now, not a mythical figure. Not someone to idolize or crush on."

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Identity, Truth, Wisdom, Power, Inspirational

25

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show."

Charles Dickens, English Novelist

Identity, Heroism, Life, Self

25

"How do you defeat terrorism? Don't be terrorized."

"How do you defeat terrorism? Don't be terrorized."

Salman Rushdie, Indian Novelist

Courage, Resilience, Fear, Freedom

25

"The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge."

"The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge."

Thomas Berger, American Novelist

Art, Science, Knowledge, Questions

25

"The Bhagavad Gita-that ancient Indian Yogic text-says that it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection. So now I have started living my own life. Imperfect and clumsy as it may look, it is resembling me now, thoroughly."

"The Bhagavad Gita-that ancient Indian Yogic text-says that it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection. So now I have started living my own life. Imperfect and clumsy as it may look, it is resembling me now, thoroughly."

Elizabeth Gilbert, American Novelist

Philosophy, Destiny, Life, Authenticity, Identity

25

"Always remember that the most important thing in a good marriage is not happiness, but stability."

"Always remember that the most important thing in a good marriage is not happiness, but stability."

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Colombian Novelist

Marriage, Happiness, Stability

25

"I have not lost faith in God. I have moments of anger and protest. Sometimes I've been closer to him for that reason."

"I have not lost faith in God. I have moments of anger and protest. Sometimes I've been closer to him for that reason."

Elie Wiesel, American Novelist

Anger, Faith, God, Moments

25

"There's no taking trout with dry breeches."

"There's no taking trout with dry breeches."

Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish Novelist

25

"A half-read book is a half-finished love affair."

"A half-read book is a half-finished love affair."

David Mitchell, British Novelist

Books, Love, Reading, Passion

25

"Human beings are the only ones in nature who are aware that they will die. For that reason and only for that reason, I have a profound respect for the human race, and I believe that its future is going to be much better than its present. Even knowing that their days are numbered and that everything will end when they least expect it, people make of their lives a battle that is worthy of a being with eternal life. What people regard as vanity-leaving great works, having children, acting in such a way as to prevent one's name from being forgotten- I regard as the highest expression of human dignity."

"Human beings are the only ones in nature who are aware that they will die. For that reason and only for that reason, I have a profound respect for the human race, and I believe that its future is going to be much better than its present. Even knowing that their days are numbered and that everything will end when they least expect it, people make of their lives a battle that is worthy of a being with eternal life. What people regard as vanity-leaving great works, having children, acting in such a way as to prevent one's name from being forgotten- I regard as the highest expression of human dignity."

Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Novelist

Humanity, Mortality, Respect, Future

25

"I believe that I am not responsible for the meaningfulness or meaninglessness of life, but that I am responsible for what I do with the life I've got."

"I believe that I am not responsible for the meaningfulness or meaninglessness of life, but that I am responsible for what I do with the life I've got."

Hermann Hesse, German Novelist

Responsibility, Meaning, Life, Choice

25

"We participate in a tragedy; at a comedy we only look."

"We participate in a tragedy; at a comedy we only look."

Aldous Huxley, English Novelist

Comedy, Tragedy

25

"Tis the only comfort of the miserable to have partners in their woes."

"Tis the only comfort of the miserable to have partners in their woes."

Miguel De Cervantes, Spanish Novelist

25

"I'm back in these regions of fumbling dark uncertain creation, but it's my one and only world, and I'll do the best I can."

"I'm back in these regions of fumbling dark uncertain creation, but it's my one and only world, and I'll do the best I can."

Jack Kerouac, American Novelist

Creativity, Creation, Life, Imagination, Effort

25

"The reason a writer writes a book is to forget a book and the reason a reader reads one is to remember it."

"The reason a writer writes a book is to forget a book and the reason a reader reads one is to remember it."

Thomas Wolfe, American Novelist

Writing, Forget, Reason, Writer

25

"The law condemns and punishes only actions within certain definite and narrow limits; it thereby justifies, in a way, all similar actions that lie outside those limits."

"The law condemns and punishes only actions within certain definite and narrow limits; it thereby justifies, in a way, all similar actions that lie outside those limits."

Leo Tolstoy, Russian Novelist

Lie, Actions, Law, Limits

25

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery."

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery."

James Joyce, Irish Novelist

Discovery, Mistakes

25

"By imposing too great a responsibility, or rather, all responsibility, on yourself, you crush yourself."

"By imposing too great a responsibility, or rather, all responsibility, on yourself, you crush yourself."

Franz Kafka, Austrian Novelist

Responsibility,

25

"Yes, I am white now,' said Gandalf. 'Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been."

"Yes, I am white now,' said Gandalf. 'Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been."

J. R. R. Tolkien, English Novelist

Power, Identity, Transformation, Wisdom

25

"The spirit who inhabits her animates us all. Destroy the host, you destroy the power. The young die first; the old wither slowly; the eldest perhaps would go last. But she is the Queen of the Damned, and the Damned can't live without her."

"The spirit who inhabits her animates us all. Destroy the host, you destroy the power. The young die first; the old wither slowly; the eldest perhaps would go last. But she is the Queen of the Damned, and the Damned can't live without her."

Anne Rice, American Novelist

Mythology, Spirit, Queen, Power, Death

25

"Profound desire, true desire is the desire to be close to someone."

"Profound desire, true desire is the desire to be close to someone."

Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Novelist

Love, Desire, Connection, Emotion

25

"You need to give money when someone gives you a knife. So the bad luck won't cut you. I wouldn't like it for you to be cut by the bad luck, Jimmy."

"You need to give money when someone gives you a knife. So the bad luck won't cut you. I wouldn't like it for you to be cut by the bad luck, Jimmy."

Margaret Atwood, Canadian Novelist

Love, Memory, Beginning, Emotion

25

"The substance of grief is not imaginary. It's as real as rope or the absence of air, and like both those things it can kill."

"The substance of grief is not imaginary. It's as real as rope or the absence of air, and like both those things it can kill."

Barbara Kingsolver, American Novelist

Grief, Pain, Loss, Reality

25

"Well, sometimes to get what you want the most, you have to do what you want the least."

"Well, sometimes to get what you want the most, you have to do what you want the least."

Jodi Picoult, American Novelist

Effort, Sacrifice, Desire, Struggle

25

"If loneliness was a choice, what was the other option? To settle for second-best and try to be happy with that? And was that fair to the person you settled for?"

"If loneliness was a choice, what was the other option? To settle for second-best and try to be happy with that? And was that fair to the person you settled for?"

Lisa Kleypas, American Novelist

Relationship, Loneliness, Choice, Love, Fairness

25

"Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears."

"Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears."

Arthur Koestler, Hungarian Novelist

Courage, Actions

25

"Repression is a seamless garment; a society which is authoritarian in its social and sexual codes, which crushes its women beneath the intolerable burdens of honour and propriety, breeds repressions of other kinds as well."

"Repression is a seamless garment; a society which is authoritarian in its social and sexual codes, which crushes its women beneath the intolerable burdens of honour and propriety, breeds repressions of other kinds as well."

Salman Rushdie, Indian Novelist

Society, Gender, Morality, Power

25

"Last night I watched the weather channel, as is my habit. Elsewhere in the world there are floods: roiling brown water, bloated cows floating by, survivors huddled on rooftops. Thousands have drowned. Global warming is held accountable: People must stop burning things up, it is said. Gasoline, oil, whole forests. But they won't stop. Greed and hunger lash them on, as usual."

"Last night I watched the weather channel, as is my habit. Elsewhere in the world there are floods: roiling brown water, bloated cows floating by, survivors huddled on rooftops. Thousands have drowned. Global warming is held accountable: People must stop burning things up, it is said. Gasoline, oil, whole forests. But they won't stop. Greed and hunger lash them on, as usual."

Margaret Atwood, Canadian Novelist

Environment, Weather, Disaster, Greed

25

"In our struggle to restrain the violence and contain the damage, we tend to forget that the human capacity for aggression is more than a monstrous defect, that it is also a crucial survival tool."

"In our struggle to restrain the violence and contain the damage, we tend to forget that the human capacity for aggression is more than a monstrous defect, that it is also a crucial survival tool."

Katherine Dunn, American Novelist

Survival, Aggression, Forget, Struggle

25

"The most boring scenes are the scenes where a character is alone."

"The most boring scenes are the scenes where a character is alone."

Chuck Palahniuk, American Novelist

Writing, Boredom, Alone, Emotion

25

"I think it's also the case that I'm not as widely travelled, or as well-educated in history, as most of the other novelists I meet: so I have to write about my own country, at the present time, because it's more or less all I know about!"

"I think it's also the case that I'm not as widely travelled, or as well-educated in history, as most of the other novelists I meet: so I have to write about my own country, at the present time, because it's more or less all I know about!"

Jonathan Coe, English Novelist

History, Time, Country, Present

25

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