Quotes by Novelist | Beyond Motive 62/393

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Quotes by Novelist

"Monkey bar," Annabeth said. "I'm great at these." She leaped onto to the first rung and start swinging her way across. She was scared of tiny spiders, but not of plummeting to her death from a set of monkey bars. Go figure."

"Monkey bar," Annabeth said. "I'm great at these." She leaped onto to the first rung and start swinging her way across. She was scared of tiny spiders, but not of plummeting to her death from a set of monkey bars. Go figure."

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Bravery, Truth, Life, Happiness, Power

41

"All wars are sacred, he said. 'To those who have to fight them. If the people who started wars didn't make them sacred, who would be foolish enough to fight? But, no matter what rallying cries the orators give to the idiots who fight, no matter what noble purposes they assign to wars, there is never but one reason for a war. And that is money. All wars are in reality money squabbles. But so few people ever realize it. Their ears are too full of bugles and drums and the fine words from stay-at-home orators. Sometimes the rallying cry is 'save the Tomb of Christ from the Heathen!' Sometimes it's 'down with Popery!' and sometimes 'Liberty!' and sometimes 'Cotton, Slavery and States' Rights!"

"All wars are sacred, he said. 'To those who have to fight them. If the people who started wars didn't make them sacred, who would be foolish enough to fight? But, no matter what rallying cries the orators give to the idiots who fight, no matter what noble purposes they assign to wars, there is never but one reason for a war. And that is money. All wars are in reality money squabbles. But so few people ever realize it. Their ears are too full of bugles and drums and the fine words from stay-at-home orators. Sometimes the rallying cry is 'save the Tomb of Christ from the Heathen!' Sometimes it's 'down with Popery!' and sometimes 'Liberty!' and sometimes 'Cotton, Slavery and States' Rights!"

Margaret Mitchell, American Novelist

Politics, War, Money, Observation, Truth

41

"But that was war. Just about all he could find in its favor was that it paid well and liberated children from the pernicious influence of their parents."

"But that was war. Just about all he could find in its favor was that it paid well and liberated children from the pernicious influence of their parents."

Joseph Heller, American Novelist

War, Children, Influence, Parents

41

"Man associates ideas not according to logic or verifiable exactitude, but according to his pleasure and interests. It is for this reason that most truths are nothing but prejudices."

"Man associates ideas not according to logic or verifiable exactitude, but according to his pleasure and interests. It is for this reason that most truths are nothing but prejudices."

Remy de Gourmont, French Novelist

Creativity, Ideas, Logic, Man, Nothing

41

"My book has a very simple surface, but there are layers of irony and paradox all the way through it."

"My book has a very simple surface, but there are layers of irony and paradox all the way through it."

Mark Haddon, English Novelist

Writing, Irony, Paradox

41

"Poets, we know, are terribly sensitive people, and in my observation one of the things they are most sensitive about is money."

"Poets, we know, are terribly sensitive people, and in my observation one of the things they are most sensitive about is money."

Robert Penn Warren, American Novelist

Money, People, Observation, Poets

41

"A woman's chastity consists, like an onion, of a series of coats."

"A woman's chastity consists, like an onion, of a series of coats."

Nathaniel Hawthorne, American Novelist

Relationship, Chastity, Woman

41

"I am a believer in sensible choices, so different from many of my own. Also in sensible names for children."

"I am a believer in sensible choices, so different from many of my own. Also in sensible names for children."

Margaret Atwood, Canadian Novelist

Realism, Choices, Sense, Tradition, Reason

41

"Most people would have probably lost count around seven. This was, Harry knewfrom his extensive reading on logic and arithmetic, the largest number that most peoplecould visually appreciate. Put seven dots on a page, and most people can take a quickglance and declare, "Seven. Switch to eight, and the majority of humanity was lost."

"Most people would have probably lost count around seven. This was, Harry knewfrom his extensive reading on logic and arithmetic, the largest number that most peoplecould visually appreciate. Put seven dots on a page, and most people can take a quickglance and declare, "Seven. Switch to eight, and the majority of humanity was lost."

Julia Quinn, American Novelist

Logic, Numbers, Observation, Truth

41

"Try to leave the Earth a better place than when you arrived."

"Try to leave the Earth a better place than when you arrived."

Sidney Sheldon, American Novelist

41

"Her tiny and organized handwriting reminded me of the tidiness of her desk, as if she'd wanted to find in words the peace and safety that life hadn't wanted to grant her."

"Her tiny and organized handwriting reminded me of the tidiness of her desk, as if she'd wanted to find in words the peace and safety that life hadn't wanted to grant her."

Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Spanish Novelist

Serenity, Order, Peace, Safety, Word

41

"I have always made an effort to render every detail of my reality with the greatest accuracy; but I have never paid attention to whether my presentation of historical facts was an exact one."

"I have always made an effort to render every detail of my reality with the greatest accuracy; but I have never paid attention to whether my presentation of historical facts was an exact one."

Lion Feuchtwanger, German Novelist

Reflection, Accuracy, Attention, Detail, Effort

41

"What broke in a man when he could bring himself to kill another?"

"What broke in a man when he could bring himself to kill another?"

Alan Paton, South African Novelist

Man, Southafrican

41

"A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease."

"A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease."

Elizabeth Gaskell, British Novelist

Friendship, Friend, Action, Desire

41

"We must all allow ourselves the fantasy of projection from time to time, a chance to clothe ourselves in the imaginary gowns and tails of what has never been and never will be. This gives some polish to our tarnished lives, and sometimes we may choose one dream over another, and in the choosing find some respite from ordinary sadness. After all, we, none of us, can ever untangle the knot of fictions that make up that wobbly thing we call a self."

"We must all allow ourselves the fantasy of projection from time to time, a chance to clothe ourselves in the imaginary gowns and tails of what has never been and never will be. This gives some polish to our tarnished lives, and sometimes we may choose one dream over another, and in the choosing find some respite from ordinary sadness. After all, we, none of us, can ever untangle the knot of fictions that make up that wobbly thing we call a self."

Siri Hustvedt, American Novelist

Imagination, Fantasy, Dream, Truth

41

"Anya jumped in front of the man, acting as his shield. "Now, Sabin. He didn't mean any harm. He's borderline stupid. You know that."

"Anya jumped in front of the man, acting as his shield. "Now, Sabin. He didn't mean any harm. He's borderline stupid. You know that."

Gena Showalter, American Novelist

Loyalty, Protection, Humor, Defense

41

"The book begins and ends with the visits to give the impression of a tunnel into their ancestors and family history. I believe in going backwards into the past - I felt I was digging a tunnel back to the past."

"The book begins and ends with the visits to give the impression of a tunnel into their ancestors and family history. I believe in going backwards into the past - I felt I was digging a tunnel back to the past."

Anita Desai, Indian Novelist

Family, History, Impression, Past

41

"It is hard to convince a high-school student that he will encounter a lot of problems more difficult than those of algebra and geometry."

"It is hard to convince a high-school student that he will encounter a lot of problems more difficult than those of algebra and geometry."

Edward W. Howe, American Novelist

Geometry, Problems, Will

41

"Did you know that mako shark fetuses eat each other in the womb?... Its true. Only cannibal fetuses survive to be born. Can you imagine if people were like that?"

"Did you know that mako shark fetuses eat each other in the womb?... Its true. Only cannibal fetuses survive to be born. Can you imagine if people were like that?"

Laini Taylor, American Novelist

Nature, Survival, Violence, Instinct

41

"An ability to look into the confusing mess of life and see things for what they are."

"An ability to look into the confusing mess of life and see things for what they are."

Suzanne Collins, American Novelist

Clarity, Perception, Life, Insight

41

"Judicious absence is a weapon."

"Judicious absence is a weapon."

Charles Reade, English Novelist

41

"I come here to speak poetry. It will always be in the grass. It will also be necessary to bend down to hear it. It will always be too simple to be discussed in assemblies."

"I come here to speak poetry. It will always be in the grass. It will also be necessary to bend down to hear it. It will always be too simple to be discussed in assemblies."

Boris Pasternak, Russian Novelist

41

"We'd spent maybe ten minutes together, during which time I'd accidentally swung a sword at her, she'd saved my life, and I'd run away chased by a band of supernatural killing machines. You know, your typical chance meeting."

"We'd spent maybe ten minutes together, during which time I'd accidentally swung a sword at her, she'd saved my life, and I'd run away chased by a band of supernatural killing machines. You know, your typical chance meeting."

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Meeting, Truth, Life, Happiness, Power

41

"I don't expect you'll hear me writing any poems to the greater glory of Ronald and Nancy Reagan."

"I don't expect you'll hear me writing any poems to the greater glory of Ronald and Nancy Reagan."

Robert Penn Warren, American Novelist

Glory, Poems, Writing

41

"Friends love misery, in fact. Sometimes, especially if we are too lucky or too successful or too pretty, our misery is the only thing that endears us to our friends."

"Friends love misery, in fact. Sometimes, especially if we are too lucky or too successful or too pretty, our misery is the only thing that endears us to our friends."

Erica Jong, American Novelist

Friendship, Love, Successful, Fact, Friends

41

"Yours in demigodishness, and all that. Peace out!"

"Yours in demigodishness, and all that. Peace out!"

Rick Riordan, American Novelist

Farewell, Humor, Happiness, Truth, Wisdom

41

"Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were. In her face were too sharply blended the delicate features of her mother, a Coast aristocrat of French descent, and the heavy ones of her florid Irish father. But it was an arresting face, pointed of chin, square of jaw. Her eyes were pale green without a touch of hazel, starred with bristly black lashes and slightly tilted at the ends. Above them, her thick black brows slanted upward, cutting a startling oblique line in her magnolia-white skin - that skin so prized by Southern women and so carefully guarded with bonnets, veils and mittens against hot Georgia suns."

"Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were. In her face were too sharply blended the delicate features of her mother, a Coast aristocrat of French descent, and the heavy ones of her florid Irish father. But it was an arresting face, pointed of chin, square of jaw. Her eyes were pale green without a touch of hazel, starred with bristly black lashes and slightly tilted at the ends. Above them, her thick black brows slanted upward, cutting a startling oblique line in her magnolia-white skin - that skin so prized by Southern women and so carefully guarded with bonnets, veils and mittens against hot Georgia suns."

Margaret Mitchell, American Novelist

Identity, Beauty, Charm, Observation, Perception

41

"Do not suppose, however, that I intend to urge a diet of classics on anybody. I have seen such diets at work. I have known people who have actually read all, or almost all, the guaranteed Hundred Best Books. God save us from reading nothing but the best."

"Do not suppose, however, that I intend to urge a diet of classics on anybody. I have seen such diets at work. I have known people who have actually read all, or almost all, the guaranteed Hundred Best Books. God save us from reading nothing but the best."

Robertson Davies, Canadian Novelist

Reading, Diet, Work, God, People

41

"I am fascinated that no one I have read seems to have noticed that the literature on Picasso continually turns grown-up women into girls."

"I am fascinated that no one I have read seems to have noticed that the literature on Picasso continually turns grown-up women into girls."

Siri Hustvedt, American Novelist

Art, Perception, Gender, Observation

41

"Most adults, unlike most children, understand the difference between a book that will hold them spellbound for a rainy Sunday afternoon and a book that will put them in touch with a part of themselves they didn't even know existed."

"Most adults, unlike most children, understand the difference between a book that will hold them spellbound for a rainy Sunday afternoon and a book that will put them in touch with a part of themselves they didn't even know existed."

Mark Haddon, English Novelist

Family, Children, Difference, Will

41

"God forgives us... who am I not to forgive?"

"God forgives us... who am I not to forgive?"

Alan Paton, South African Novelist

God, Southafrican

41

"Under every roof, a story, just as behind every brow, a history."

"Under every roof, a story, just as behind every brow, a history."

Gregory Maguire, American Novelist

Story, Humanity, History, Truth

41

"Aesthetic emotion puts man in a state favorable to the reception of erotic emotion. Art is the accomplice of love. Take love away and there is no longer art."

"Aesthetic emotion puts man in a state favorable to the reception of erotic emotion. Art is the accomplice of love. Take love away and there is no longer art."

Remy de Gourmont, French Novelist

Love, Art, Emotion, Man

41

"Ultimately, your theme will find you. You don't have to go looking for it."

"Ultimately, your theme will find you. You don't have to go looking for it."

Richard Russo, American Novelist

41

"I was about 13, in some ways, when I wrote the first book. Approximately 18 when I wrote the second."

"I was about 13, in some ways, when I wrote the first book. Approximately 18 when I wrote the second."

Jonathan Franzen, American Novelist

41

"Both the historian and the novelist view history as the struggle of a tiny minority, able and determined to make judgments, which is up against a vast and densely packed majority of the blind, who are led by their instincts and unable to think for themselves."

"Both the historian and the novelist view history as the struggle of a tiny minority, able and determined to make judgments, which is up against a vast and densely packed majority of the blind, who are led by their instincts and unable to think for themselves."

Lion Feuchtwanger, German Novelist

History, Blind, Majority, Minority

41

"Kissing don't last: cookery do!"

"Kissing don't last: cookery do!"

George Meredith, English Novelist

Relationship, Cookery, Kissing

41

"To all, to each, a fair good-night, and pleasing dreams, and slumbers light."

"To all, to each, a fair good-night, and pleasing dreams, and slumbers light."

Walter Scott, Scottish Novelist

Dream, Dreams, Light

41

"That night as I lay in bed, I thought of several things I could have said and mourned the fact that my wit usually bloomed late, peaking when it no longer mattered, during the solitary hours close to midnight."

"That night as I lay in bed, I thought of several things I could have said and mourned the fact that my wit usually bloomed late, peaking when it no longer mattered, during the solitary hours close to midnight."

Siri Hustvedt, American Novelist

Regret, Truth, Observation, Reflection

41

"I think people throughout the world identify with my characters."

"I think people throughout the world identify with my characters."

Sidney Sheldon, American Novelist

41

"If I were a girl, I'd despair. The supply of good women far exceeds that of the men who deserve them."

"If I were a girl, I'd despair. The supply of good women far exceeds that of the men who deserve them."

Robert Graves, Irish Novelist

Man, Men, Women, Despair

41

"The swimmer adrift on the open seas measures his strength, and strives with all his muscles to keep himself afloat. But what is he to do when there is no land on the horizon, and none beyond it?"

"The swimmer adrift on the open seas measures his strength, and strives with all his muscles to keep himself afloat. But what is he to do when there is no land on the horizon, and none beyond it?"

Georges Duhamel, French Novelist

Strength, Land, Open

41

"The world unwraps itself to you, again and again as soon as you are ready to see it anew."

"The world unwraps itself to you, again and again as soon as you are ready to see it anew."

Gregory Maguire, American Novelist

Renewal, Perception, Openness, Discovery

41

"I have to admit that I only read 'War and Peace' when I was 40. But I knew the basics before then."

"I have to admit that I only read 'War and Peace' when I was 40. But I knew the basics before then."

Umberto Eco, Italian Novelist

Literature, Reading, Knowledge, Learning

41

"I've included these little jokes and mysteries in my writing for the amusement of readers."

"I've included these little jokes and mysteries in my writing for the amusement of readers."

Armistead Maupin, American Novelist

Humor, Amusement, Jokes, Writing

41

"On BeautyNo, we could not itemize the listof sins they can't forgive us.The beautiful don't lack the wound.It is always beginning to snow.Of sins they can't forgive usspeech is beautifully useless.It is always beginning to snow.The beautiful know this.Speech is beautifully useless.They are the damned.The beautiful know this.They stand around unnatural as statuary.They are the damnedand so their sadness is perfect,delicate as an egg placed in your palm.Hard, it is decorated with their faceand so their sadness is perfect.The beautiful don't lack the wound.Hard, it is decorated with their face.No, we could not itemize the list. Cape Cod, May 1974."

"On BeautyNo, we could not itemize the listof sins they can't forgive us.The beautiful don't lack the wound.It is always beginning to snow.Of sins they can't forgive usspeech is beautifully useless.It is always beginning to snow.The beautiful know this.Speech is beautifully useless.They are the damned.The beautiful know this.They stand around unnatural as statuary.They are the damnedand so their sadness is perfect,delicate as an egg placed in your palm.Hard, it is decorated with their faceand so their sadness is perfect.The beautiful don't lack the wound.Hard, it is decorated with their face.No, we could not itemize the list. Cape Cod, May 1974."

Zadie Smith, British Novelist

Aesthetics, Beauty, Sadness, Wounds, Art

41

"No fathers or mothers think their own children ugly."

"No fathers or mothers think their own children ugly."

Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish Novelist

Family, Children, Fathers, Mothers, Ugly

41

"The very idea of a library for me is bound to my mother and father and includes the history of my own metamorphosis through books, fictions that are no less part of me than much of my own history."

"The very idea of a library for me is bound to my mother and father and includes the history of my own metamorphosis through books, fictions that are no less part of me than much of my own history."

Siri Hustvedt, American Novelist

Literature, Books, Family, Identity, Reading

41

"That is one of the bitter curses of poverty; it leaves no right to be generous."

"That is one of the bitter curses of poverty; it leaves no right to be generous."

George Gissing, British Novelist

41

"Every new event - everything I did for the rest of my life - would only separate us more and more: days she was n longer a part of, an ever-growing distance between us. Every single day for the rest of my life, she would only be further away."

"Every new event - everything I did for the rest of my life - would only separate us more and more: days she was n longer a part of, an ever-growing distance between us. Every single day for the rest of my life, she would only be further away."

Donna Tartt, American Novelist

Separation, Distance, Time, Loss

41

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