Quotes by Writer | Beyond Motive 82/436

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Quotes by Writer

"A young woman forced to keep drunks supplied with beer and siblings with cleanunderwear-instead of being allowed to pursue something higher -stores up greatreserves of vitality, a vitality never dreamed of by university students yawning over theirbooks. (...) The difference between the universitygraduate and the autodidact lies not so much in the extent of knowledge as in theextent of vitality and self-confidence. The elan with which Tereza flung herself into hernew Prague existence was both frenzied and precarious. She seemed to be expectingsomeone to come up to her any day and say, What are you doing here? Go back whereyou belong!"

"A young woman forced to keep drunks supplied with beer and siblings with cleanunderwear-instead of being allowed to pursue something higher -stores up greatreserves of vitality, a vitality never dreamed of by university students yawning over theirbooks. (...) The difference between the universitygraduate and the autodidact lies not so much in the extent of knowledge as in theextent of vitality and self-confidence. The elan with which Tereza flung herself into hernew Prague existence was both frenzied and precarious. She seemed to be expectingsomeone to come up to her any day and say, What are you doing here? Go back whereyou belong!"

Milan Kundera, Czechoslovakian Writer

Vitality, Knowledge, Confidence, Life

46

"Habit is something you can do without thinking, which is why most of us have so many of them."

"Habit is something you can do without thinking, which is why most of us have so many of them."

Frank Howard Clark, American Writer

Habit, Thinking

46

"In science fiction, you can also test out your own realities."

"In science fiction, you can also test out your own realities."

Theodore Sturgeon, American Writer

Science, Fiction

46

"For a writer, its very attractive to stay in one world for a time."

"For a writer, its very attractive to stay in one world for a time."

Terry Brooks, American Writer

46

"He felt split in two, one crazy man eating hair and one rational man watching a crazy man eat hair. He chewed and swallowed the last pieces of his father's life. He felt like he was building a museum of pain, a freak show, where he was the only visitor viewing the only mutant screaming the only prayer he knew: Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back Daddy..."

"He felt split in two, one crazy man eating hair and one rational man watching a crazy man eat hair. He chewed and swallowed the last pieces of his father's life. He felt like he was building a museum of pain, a freak show, where he was the only visitor viewing the only mutant screaming the only prayer he knew: Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back, Daddy. Come back Daddy..."

Sherman Alexie, American Writer

Trauma, Loss, Pain, Memory

46

"I wanted to portray very, very dark subject matter and a deceptively complex story in the brightest colours and simplest lines possible to leave the readers reeling."

"I wanted to portray very, very dark subject matter and a deceptively complex story in the brightest colours and simplest lines possible to leave the readers reeling."

Mark Millar, Scottish Writer

46

"Modesty and unselfishness - these are the virtues which men praise - and pass by."

"Modesty and unselfishness - these are the virtues which men praise - and pass by."

Andre Maurois, French Writer

Man, Men, Modesty, Praise

46

"My whole life experience feeds into my writing. I think that must be true for every writer. Clearly the Army and combat were major influences; just the same, you need to understand that many of the writers we have now couldn't load a revolver."

"My whole life experience feeds into my writing. I think that must be true for every writer. Clearly the Army and combat were major influences; just the same, you need to understand that many of the writers we have now couldn't load a revolver."

Gene Wolfe, American Writer

Life, Experience, Army, Now

46

"For the first half of this century, High Court judges have been cautious to the point of timidity in expressing any criticism of governmental action; the independence of the judiciary has been of a decidedly subordinate character."

"For the first half of this century, High Court judges have been cautious to the point of timidity in expressing any criticism of governmental action; the independence of the judiciary has been of a decidedly subordinate character."

Ferdinand Mount, British Writer

Action, Character, Court, Criticism

46

"I respect my limitations, but I don't use them as an excuse."

"I respect my limitations, but I don't use them as an excuse."

Stephen R. Donaldson, American Writer

Personal, Limitations, Respect

46

"Left-wing politicians take away your liberty in the name of children and of fighting poverty, while right-wing politicians do it in the name of family values and fighting drugs. Either way, government gets bigger and you become less free."

"Left-wing politicians take away your liberty in the name of children and of fighting poverty, while right-wing politicians do it in the name of family values and fighting drugs. Either way, government gets bigger and you become less free."

Harry Browne, American Writer

Family, Government, Values, Children

46

"The Very first moment I beheld him, my heart was irrevocably gone."

"The Very first moment I beheld him, my heart was irrevocably gone."

Jane Austen, British Writer

Aesthetics, Beauty, Harmony, Sense

46

"The miser is as much in want of what he has as of what he has not."

"The miser is as much in want of what he has as of what he has not."

Publilius Syrus, Roman Writer

Moderation, Miser, Want

46

"There's nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child."

"There's nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child."

Frank Howard Clark, American Writer

Trust, Beliefs, Help, Nothing, Trying

46

"The professionals are going to be joined by the average Joe. Everybody's a publisher."

"The professionals are going to be joined by the average Joe. Everybody's a publisher."

Eric Brown, British Writer

Writing, Professionals

46

"The story of my very first sale is the fact that I dreamed up a foolproof paper to cheat an insurance company out of several hundred thousand dollars."

"The story of my very first sale is the fact that I dreamed up a foolproof paper to cheat an insurance company out of several hundred thousand dollars."

Theodore Sturgeon, American Writer

Deception, Company, Fact, First

46

"There hasn't been enough change in comics to suit me. I don't know why exactly."

"There hasn't been enough change in comics to suit me. I don't know why exactly."

Harvey Pekar, American Writer

46

"To love without role, without power plays, is revolution."

"To love without role, without power plays, is revolution."

Rita Mae Brown, American Writer

Love, Power, Revolution

46

"And verily, a woman need know but one man well, in order to understand all men; whereas a man may know all women and understand not one of them."

"And verily, a woman need know but one man well, in order to understand all men; whereas a man may know all women and understand not one of them."

Helen Rowland, American Writer

Woman, Women, Man, May, Order

46

"If you want to search , search who care about you,Don't search person for use ,those who want use they will search you self."

"If you want to search , search who care about you,Don't search person for use ,those who want use they will search you self."

Mohammed Zaki Ansari, Indian Writer

Sincerity, Care, Authenticity, Relationship, Values

46

"From a writing point of view, you now have teams of screenwriters working with a director. What's lost in the process is the power of that one heart, brain, gut and soul that makes something an original piece of writing."

"From a writing point of view, you now have teams of screenwriters working with a director. What's lost in the process is the power of that one heart, brain, gut and soul that makes something an original piece of writing."

Joe Eszterhas, Hungarian Writer

Power, Soul, Heart, Now

46

"Give us that grand word "woman" once again, and let's have done with "lady"; one's a term full of fine force, strong, beautiful, and firm, fit for the noblest use of tongue or pen; and one's a word for lackeys."

"Give us that grand word "woman" once again, and let's have done with "lady"; one's a term full of fine force, strong, beautiful, and firm, fit for the noblest use of tongue or pen; and one's a word for lackeys."

Ella Wheeler Wilcox, American Writer

Force, Pen, Tongue, Word

46

"Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect shall not be infringed by his neighbours. This right flows from the very nature of man."

"Every man has a certain sphere of discretion which he has a right to expect shall not be infringed by his neighbours. This right flows from the very nature of man."

William Godwin, English Writer

Nature, Discretion, Man, Right

46

"What is the use of good painting? We want a spell cast upon the optical part of our existence! We seldom really see the world, but when we do, we become as still as a picture."

"What is the use of good painting? We want a spell cast upon the optical part of our existence! We seldom really see the world, but when we do, we become as still as a picture."

Robert Musil, Austrian Writer

Painting, Want, World

46

"Art must always stand guard against stirring emotions that lie outside the aesthetic: sexual arousal, terror, disgust, shock."

"Art must always stand guard against stirring emotions that lie outside the aesthetic: sexual arousal, terror, disgust, shock."

Milan Kundera, Czechoslovakian Writer

Aesthetics, Art, Emotion, Disgust, Sexuality

46

"He wondered why the pelican was the symbol of charity, except it was that it wanted a good deal of charity to admire a pelican."

"He wondered why the pelican was the symbol of charity, except it was that it wanted a good deal of charity to admire a pelican."

Gilbert K. Chesterton, English Writer

Charity, Symbolism, Admiration, Humor

46

"Pleasure only starts once the worm has got into the fruit, to become delightful happiness must be tainted with poison."

"Pleasure only starts once the worm has got into the fruit, to become delightful happiness must be tainted with poison."

Georges Bataille, French Writer

Happiness, Pleasure, Poison

46

"The manner of the country makes the usage of life there, and the land will not be lived in except in its own fashion."

"The manner of the country makes the usage of life there, and the land will not be lived in except in its own fashion."

Mary Austin, American Writer

Life, Country, Fashion, Land

46

"Comedians and impressionists used to be two different showbiz animals entirely, but now there's no such thing as a comedian who doesn't do impressions."

"Comedians and impressionists used to be two different showbiz animals entirely, but now there's no such thing as a comedian who doesn't do impressions."

John Podhoretz, American Writer

Animals, Comedians, Now

46

"No doubt Western civilization has in the past been full of wars and revolutions, and the national elements in our culture, even when they were ignored, always provided an unconscious driving force of passion and aggressive self-assertion."

"No doubt Western civilization has in the past been full of wars and revolutions, and the national elements in our culture, even when they were ignored, always provided an unconscious driving force of passion and aggressive self-assertion."

Christopher Dawson, English Writer

Civilization, Culture, Doubt, Driving

46

"Truth is strong, and sometime or other will prevail."

"Truth is strong, and sometime or other will prevail."

Mary Astell, English Writer

46

"It's always a mistake for writers to key their submissions to world events, because they move so quickly and unpredictably, as has certainly proven the case in Afghanistan."

"It's always a mistake for writers to key their submissions to world events, because they move so quickly and unpredictably, as has certainly proven the case in Afghanistan."

Richard Curtis, New Zealander Writer

Mistake, Afghanistan, Events, Key

46

"It may be an extreme example brought about by abnormal circumstances - but the criteria of human rights kick in, surely, precisely when the conditions are extreme and the situation is abnormal."

"It may be an extreme example brought about by abnormal circumstances - but the criteria of human rights kick in, surely, precisely when the conditions are extreme and the situation is abnormal."

Breyten Breytenbach, South African Writer

Circumstance, Circumstances, Example, Extreme, Rights

46

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

Anne Frank, German Writer

People, Heart, Ideals

46

"No one ever goes into battle thinking God is on the other side."

"No one ever goes into battle thinking God is on the other side."

Terry Goodkind, American Writer

God, Battle, Thinking

46

"The natural effect of sorrow over the dead is to refine and elevate the mind."

"The natural effect of sorrow over the dead is to refine and elevate the mind."

Washington Irving, American Writer

Grief, Effect, Mind, Sorrow

46

"You need massive recruitment to tell the poorest of the poor what is possible."

"You need massive recruitment to tell the poorest of the poor what is possible."

Jonathan Kozol, American Writer

46

"After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer."

"After every storm the sun will smile; for every problem there is a solution, and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer."

William R. Alger, American Writer

Soul, Duty, Smile, Solution

46

"When two people decide to get a divorce, it isn't a sign that they "don't understand" one another, but a sign that they have, at last, begun to."

"When two people decide to get a divorce, it isn't a sign that they "don't understand" one another, but a sign that they have, at last, begun to."

Helen Rowland, American Writer

People, Divorce

46

"Avarice has ruined more souls than extravagance."

"Avarice has ruined more souls than extravagance."

Charles Caleb Colton, English Writer

Greed, Extravagance

46

"An attempt to write nothing but characterization will soon bog down; I for one don't want to have somebody tell me about someone else."

"An attempt to write nothing but characterization will soon bog down; I for one don't want to have somebody tell me about someone else."

Daniel Keys Moran, American Writer

Nothing, Want, Will

46

"My older son who is, I think, here tonight, is forty-one years old. Which is odd because so am I."

"My older son who is, I think, here tonight, is forty-one years old. Which is odd because so am I."

Robert B. Parker, American Writer

Family, Son, Old, Years

46

"I am a man, and whatever concerns humanity is of interest to me."

"I am a man, and whatever concerns humanity is of interest to me."

Terence, Roman Writer

Humanity, Interest

46

"It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut, they couldn't hear the barbarians coming."

"It was luxuries like air conditioning that brought down the Roman Empire. With air conditioning their windows were shut, they couldn't hear the barbarians coming."

Garrison Keillor, American Writer

Society, Windows

46

"Am I worried people will say I'm repeating myself? Sure. One thought I had was to publish it as a novel but eventually I just decided to do what I wanted to do."

"Am I worried people will say I'm repeating myself? Sure. One thought I had was to publish it as a novel but eventually I just decided to do what I wanted to do."

Elizabeth Wurtzel, American Writer

Thought, People, Will

46

"But I've found that to talk too much about movies is the kiss of death. If it happens then it happens, is all."

"But I've found that to talk too much about movies is the kiss of death. If it happens then it happens, is all."

Brian Lumley, English Writer

Movies, Death, Kiss, Talk

46

"Without aggression, it becomes possible to think well, to be curious about differences, and to enjoy each other's company."

"Without aggression, it becomes possible to think well, to be curious about differences, and to enjoy each other's company."

Margaret J. Wheatley, American Writer

Communication, Aggression, Company

46

"You come in off the street, through the doors of the theater. You sit down. The lights go down and the curtain goes up. And you're in another world."

"You come in off the street, through the doors of the theater. You sit down. The lights go down and the curtain goes up. And you're in another world."

Robert Caro, American Writer

Experience, Theater, World

46

"When the rose and the cross are united the alchemical marriage is complete and the drama ends. Then we wake from history and enter eternity."

"When the rose and the cross are united the alchemical marriage is complete and the drama ends. Then we wake from history and enter eternity."

Robert Anton Wilson, American Writer

History, Marriage, Drama, Eternity

46

"A kitten is chiefly remarkable for rushing about like mad at nothing whatever, and generally stopping before it gets there."

"A kitten is chiefly remarkable for rushing about like mad at nothing whatever, and generally stopping before it gets there."

Agnes Repplier, American Writer

Nothing, Remarkable

46

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