Clive James Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Clive James

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Clive James Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Clive James on Wise Famous Quotes.

Clive James quotes: a two-word formulation for the miraculous ability of pundits to deduce that a past event had been inevitable: "retrospective clairvoyance. a two-word formulation for the miraculous ability of pundits to deduce that a past event had been inevitable: "retrospective clairvoyance.
Clive James quotes: The inevitable effect of a biographer's hindsight is to belittle the subject's foresight. The inevitable effect of a biographer's hindsight is to belittle the subject's foresight.
Clive James quotes: It was being published, even after his death, that brought Franz Kafka alive: otherwise he would have been just a man who got nowhere with women. It was being published, even after his death, that brought Franz Kafka alive: otherwise he would have been just a man who got nowhere with women.
Clive James quotes: Generally it is our failures that civilize us. Triumph confirms us in our habits. Generally it is our failures that civilize us. Triumph confirms us in our habits.
Clive James quotes: You can never get a woman to sit down and listen to a drum solo. You can never get a woman to sit down and listen to a drum solo.
Clive James quotes: Even in moments of tranquility, Murray Walker sounds like a man whose trousers are on fire. Even in moments of tranquility, Murray Walker sounds like a man whose trousers are on fire.
Clive James quotes: An education without a Bible education is no education. An education without a Bible education is no education.
Clive James quotes: One of the virtues of the NHS ... it doesn't worry you about money at the moment when you're least capable of doing anything about it. One of the virtues of the NHS ... it doesn't worry you about money at the moment when you're least capable of doing anything about it.
Clive James quotes: All honest labor becomes easy; it only becomes hard when done with unwillingness. All honest labor becomes easy; it only becomes hard when done with unwillingness.
Clive James quotes: Finally you get to the age when a book's power to make you think becomes the first thing you notice about it. Finally you get to the age when a book's power to make you think becomes the first thing you notice about it.
Clive James quotes: Everyone has a right to a university degree in America, even if it's in Hamburger Technology. Everyone has a right to a university degree in America, even if it's in Hamburger Technology.
Clive James quotes: Fiction is life with the dull bits left out. Fiction is life with the dull bits left out.
Clive James quotes: thumbnail sketch of his life would include two main facts: thumbnail sketch of his life would include two main facts:
Clive James quotes: They had a ... dog called Bluey. A know psychopath, Bluey would attack himself if nothing else was available. They had a ... dog called Bluey. A know psychopath, Bluey would attack himself if nothing else was available.
Clive James quotes: One way or another, all the poets of the thirties and forties reacted to Auden, either by rejecting him or trying to absorb him. One way or another, all the poets of the thirties and forties reacted to Auden, either by rejecting him or trying to absorb him.
Clive James quotes: Mocking Hugh Hefner is easy to do, and in my mind should be made easier. Mocking Hugh Hefner is easy to do, and in my mind should be made easier.
Clive James quotes: I've only got a fraction of the energy I once had, but I think I probably use it better. I've only got a fraction of the energy I once had, but I think I probably use it better.
Clive James quotes: Bjorn Borg looks like a hunchbacked, jut-bottomed version of Lizabeth Scott, impersonating a bearded Apache princess. Bjorn Borg looks like a hunchbacked, jut-bottomed version of Lizabeth Scott, impersonating a bearded Apache princess.
Clive James quotes: Some people are different, and so are the rest of us. Some people are different, and so are the rest of us.
Clive James quotes: If an artist is any good at all, then he or she will have a later phase that's more interesting than the early one. If an artist is any good at all, then he or she will have a later phase that's more interesting than the early one.
Clive James quotes: I love reading about the sea. I love reading about it a lot more than actually being on the sea, when you think about it. I love reading about the sea. I love reading about it a lot more than actually being on the sea, when you think about it.
Clive James quotes: There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into. There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into.
Clive James quotes: Sick of being a prisoner of my childhood, I want to put it behind me. Sick of being a prisoner of my childhood, I want to put it behind me.
Clive James quotes: A sense of humour is common sense dancing. A sense of humour is common sense dancing.
Clive James quotes: Until the end of World War II, Argentina and Australia were running in parallel. Until the end of World War II, Argentina and Australia were running in parallel.
Clive James quotes: As a work of art, it reminds me of a long conversation between two drunks As a work of art, it reminds me of a long conversation between two drunks
Clive James quotes: The girls had to kneel all night on the parade ground waiting to see one of their number punished The girls had to kneel all night on the parade ground waiting to see one of their number punished
Clive James quotes: Art is the outward integration inspired by the artist's inner disintegration. Art is the outward integration inspired by the artist's inner disintegration.
Clive James quotes: Writers quite often starve. And I'm mainly just writing critical prose and poetry, that's a formula for starvation. Writers quite often starve. And I'm mainly just writing critical prose and poetry, that's a formula for starvation.
Clive James quotes: Every sentence he manages to utter scatters its component parts like pond water from a verb chasing its own tail. Every sentence he manages to utter scatters its component parts like pond water from a verb chasing its own tail.
Clive James quotes: And he wrote the single most famous poem about the death camps, "Todesfuge" (Death Fugue). And he wrote the single most famous poem about the death camps, "Todesfuge" (Death Fugue).
Clive James quotes: Anyone afraid of what he thinks television does to the world is probably just afraid of the world. Anyone afraid of what he thinks television does to the world is probably just afraid of the world.
Clive James quotes: Men never sound more stupid than when they're telling you they're a very complex personality. Men never sound more stupid than when they're telling you they're a very complex personality.
Clive James quotes: a poem is never finished, only abandoned, a poem is never finished, only abandoned,
Clive James quotes: The Canadian version of Julius Caesar's memoirs? I came, I saw, I coped. The Canadian version of Julius Caesar's memoirs? I came, I saw, I coped.
Clive James quotes: Twin miracles of mascara, her eyes looked like the corpses of two small crows that had crashed into a chalk cliff. Twin miracles of mascara, her eyes looked like the corpses of two small crows that had crashed into a chalk cliff.
Clive James quotes: The damaging notion that obscure is the way philosophy should sound. The damaging notion that obscure is the way philosophy should sound.
Clive James quotes: The childish urge to understand everything doesn't necessarily fade when the time approaches for you to do the most adult thing of all: vanish. The childish urge to understand everything doesn't necessarily fade when the time approaches for you to do the most adult thing of all: vanish.
Clive James quotes: The Benson and Hedges Cup was won by McEnroe ... he was as charming as always, which means that he was as charming as a dead mouse in a loaf The Benson and Hedges Cup was won by McEnroe ... he was as charming as always, which means that he was as charming as a dead mouse in a loaf of bread.
Clive James quotes: That amazing thing doesn't need my poem, but my poem still needs it, the way every poem still needs all the world. That amazing thing doesn't need my poem, but my poem still needs it, the way every poem still needs all the world.
Clive James quotes: If we want a book to do more than what it does, that's a condemnation. If we want it to do more of what it does, that's an endorsement. If we want a book to do more than what it does, that's a condemnation. If we want it to do more of what it does, that's an endorsement.
Clive James quotes: A LL THE ENTRIES in Freud's diary of his last decade are short. Very few are more than one line long. A LL THE ENTRIES in Freud's diary of his last decade are short. Very few are more than one line long.
Clive James quotes: And above all, I am not interested enough in politics to let them encumber my last days. - DRIEU LA ROCHELLE, And above all, I am not interested enough in politics to let them encumber my last days. - DRIEU LA ROCHELLE,
Clive James quotes: First-rate science fiction was, and remains, more interesting than second-rate art. First-rate science fiction was, and remains, more interesting than second-rate art.
Clive James quotes: People should be stopped from writing poetry. There's far too much of it. And if they're any good, they'll go ahead anyways. People should be stopped from writing poetry. There's far too much of it. And if they're any good, they'll go ahead anyways.
Clive James quotes: Luxury is a necessity that starts where necessity stops. - COCO CHANEL (ATTRIB.): Luxury is a necessity that starts where necessity stops. - COCO CHANEL (ATTRIB.):
Clive James quotes: All I can do is turn a phrase until it catches the light. All I can do is turn a phrase until it catches the light.
Clive James quotes: Bizarrely, I am convinced that a writer incapable of talking about himself is not a complete writer. - WITOLD GOMBROWICZ, Bizarrely, I am convinced that a writer incapable of talking about himself is not a complete writer. - WITOLD GOMBROWICZ,
Clive James quotes: Leaving aside the consideration that academics might always favour poetic difficulty - it makes them indispensable - Leaving aside the consideration that academics might always favour poetic difficulty - it makes them indispensable -
Clive James quotes: Writing is a performance art for me. They're very closely aligned, writing and performing. But I'm a writer, not a performer. Writing is a performance art for me. They're very closely aligned, writing and performing. But I'm a writer, not a performer.
Clive James quotes: Tyrants conduct monologues above a million solitudes. - ALBERT CAMUS, THE REBEL Tyrants conduct monologues above a million solitudes. - ALBERT CAMUS, THE REBEL
Clive James quotes: The rattle of plastic keys reminds me of a squadron of butterflies failing to fight their way out of a paper bag. The rattle of plastic keys reminds me of a squadron of butterflies failing to fight their way out of a paper bag.
Clive James quotes: When absolute power is on offer, talent fights to get in. When absolute power is on offer, talent fights to get in.
Clive James quotes: When virtue had been declared a crime, there was no refuge even in reticence. When virtue had been declared a crime, there was no refuge even in reticence.
Clive James quotes: John McEnroe looks as if he is serving round the edge of an imaginary building. John McEnroe looks as if he is serving round the edge of an imaginary building.
Clive James quotes: Tom Stoppard has said that the trouble with bad art is that the artist knows exactly what he's doing.) Tom Stoppard has said that the trouble with bad art is that the artist knows exactly what he's doing.)
Clive James quotes: All intellectual tendencies are corrupted when they consort with power. All intellectual tendencies are corrupted when they consort with power.
Clive James quotes: A man who wants to find out who he really is should try watching the woman he loves as she dances the tango with a maestro. A man who wants to find out who he really is should try watching the woman he loves as she dances the tango with a maestro.
Clive James quotes: Because the trivial concerns oneself, one fails to see it might be boring. Because the trivial concerns oneself, one fails to see it might be boring.
Clive James quotes: Humphrey Searle writes music that sounds like the theme from 'Star Wars' played backwards through a washing machine. Humphrey Searle writes music that sounds like the theme from 'Star Wars' played backwards through a washing machine.
Clive James quotes: A sceptic finds Dallas absurd. A cynic thinks the public doesn't A sceptic finds Dallas absurd. A cynic thinks the public doesn't
Clive James quotes: Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing. Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.
Clive James quotes: I've got life for a subject because as life starts to drain away, you start seeing very clearly what life is, for the first time. I've got life for a subject because as life starts to drain away, you start seeing very clearly what life is, for the first time.
Clive James quotes: John McEnroe has hair like badly turned broccoli. John McEnroe has hair like badly turned broccoli.
Clive James quotes: A luxury liner is really just a bad play surrounded by water. A luxury liner is really just a bad play surrounded by water.
Clive James quotes: You can't be young always. The day will come when everything will fall apart. You can't be young always. The day will come when everything will fall apart.
Clive James quotes: If you are vulnerable economically, you are vulnerable all along the line. If you are vulnerable economically, you are vulnerable all along the line.
Clive James quotes: On the correctly formed pubescent girl, a Speedo looked wonderful. When it was wet, it was an incitement to riot. On the correctly formed pubescent girl, a Speedo looked wonderful. When it was wet, it was an incitement to riot.
Clive James quotes: I saw the film Pearl Harbour and it made me wish that the Japanese had bombed Hollywood instead! I saw the film Pearl Harbour and it made me wish that the Japanese had bombed Hollywood instead!
Clive James quotes: The driving force of any ideology stands revealed: it can't be coherent without being intolerant. The driving force of any ideology stands revealed: it can't be coherent without being intolerant.
Clive James quotes: Jack Aubrey is a tremendous tower of strength and you always want to read about him. Jack Aubrey is a tremendous tower of strength and you always want to read about him.
Clive James quotes: The thing about making a documentary in Las Vegas is there isn't much to film apart from other people making documentaries about Las Vegas. The thing about making a documentary in Las Vegas is there isn't much to film apart from other people making documentaries about Las Vegas.
Clive James quotes: (Of Marilyn Monroe) She was good at being inarticulately abstracted for the same reason that midgets are good at being short (Of Marilyn Monroe) She was good at being inarticulately abstracted for the same reason that midgets are good at being short
Clive James quotes: Apparently Burgess shares the gutter press assumption that those who achieve fame should be made to suffer from it. Apparently Burgess shares the gutter press assumption that those who achieve fame should be made to suffer from it.
Clive James quotes: Today, they separately demonstrate what a luxury it is to be a stable, prosperous, democratic nation with a dependable constitution. Today, they separately demonstrate what a luxury it is to be a stable, prosperous, democratic nation with a dependable constitution.
Clive James quotes: Democracy is even more important for what it prevents than for what it provides. Democracy is even more important for what it prevents than for what it provides.
Clive James quotes: Television is simultaneously blamed, often by the same people, for worsening the world and for being powerless to change it. Television is simultaneously blamed, often by the same people, for worsening the world and for being powerless to change it.
Clive James quotes: Like a Volvo, Bjorn Borg is rugged, has good after-sales service, and is very dull. Like a Volvo, Bjorn Borg is rugged, has good after-sales service, and is very dull.
Clive James quotes: Experts say men think of sex every 10 seconds ... What do they think of in the other nine? Experts say men think of sex every 10 seconds ... What do they think of in the other nine?
Clive James quotes: The smartest move I ever made in showbusiness was to start off looking like the kind of wreck I would end up as. I was already aged in the wood. The smartest move I ever made in showbusiness was to start off looking like the kind of wreck I would end up as. I was already aged in the wood.
Clive James quotes: Australia is all that and more, and Argentina, after yet another implosion of the civil order, is once again none of it and less. Australia is all that and more, and Argentina, after yet another implosion of the civil order, is once again none of it and less.
Clive James quotes: I won't have to miss smoking any more. Nobody smokes where I'm going: It's like a row of restaurants in California. I won't have to miss smoking any more. Nobody smokes where I'm going: It's like a row of restaurants in California.
Clive James quotes: Disco dancing is just the steady thump of a giant moron knocking in an endless nail. Disco dancing is just the steady thump of a giant moron knocking in an endless nail.
Clive James quotes: (Shake an aphorism, he said, and in most cases a lie falls out, leaving only a banality.) (Shake an aphorism, he said, and in most cases a lie falls out, leaving only a banality.)
Clive James quotes: In whichever way a democratic system might be sick, terrorism does not heal it, it kills it. Democracy is healed with democracy. - VIRGINIO ROGNONI, In whichever way a democratic system might be sick, terrorism does not heal it, it kills it. Democracy is healed with democracy. - VIRGINIO ROGNONI,
Clive James quotes: Whoever called snooker 'chess with balls' was rude, but right. Whoever called snooker 'chess with balls' was rude, but right.
Clive James quotes: It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are. It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are.
Clive James quotes: The British secret service was staffed at one point almost entirely by alcoholic homosexuals working for the KGB The British secret service was staffed at one point almost entirely by alcoholic homosexuals working for the KGB
Clive James quotes: She was good at playing abstract confusion in the same way that a midget is good at being short. She was good at playing abstract confusion in the same way that a midget is good at being short.
Clive James quotes: She wasn't just beautiful. She was like the sun coming up: coming up giggling. She was giggling as if she had just remembered something funny. She wasn't just beautiful. She was like the sun coming up: coming up giggling. She was giggling as if she had just remembered something funny.
Clive James quotes: Ban poetry. And make sure that anyone caught reading it is expelled from school. Then it will acquire the glamour. Ban poetry. And make sure that anyone caught reading it is expelled from school. Then it will acquire the glamour.
Clive James quotes: Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like a condom full of walnuts ... Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like a condom full of walnuts ...
Clive James quotes: I work on the assumption, or let it be the fear, that the reader will stop reading if I stop being interesting. I work on the assumption, or let it be the fear, that the reader will stop reading if I stop being interesting.
Clive James quotes: A life without fame can be a good life, but fame without a life is no life at all. A life without fame can be a good life, but fame without a life is no life at all.
Clive James quotes: The key to effective teaching is to remember how you learned. The key to effective teaching is to remember how you learned.
Clive James quotes: I was brought up on the proletarian left, and I remain there. The fair go for workers is fundamental, and I don't believe the free market has a mind. I was brought up on the proletarian left, and I remain there. The fair go for workers is fundamental, and I don't believe the free market has a mind.
Clive James quotes: A traditional fixture at Wimbledon is the way the BBC TV commentary box fills up with British players eliminated in the early rounds. A traditional fixture at Wimbledon is the way the BBC TV commentary box fills up with British players eliminated in the early rounds.
Clive James quotes: The essence of a class system is not that the privileged are conscious of their privileges, but that the deprived are conscious of their deprivations. The essence of a class system is not that the privileged are conscious of their privileges, but that the deprived are conscious of their deprivations.
Clive James quotes: Delivering the State of the Union? That bloke couldn't deliver pizza. Delivering the State of the Union? That bloke couldn't deliver pizza.
Clive James quotes: Not everyone who wants to make a film is crazy, but almost everyone who is crazy wants to make a film. Not everyone who wants to make a film is crazy, but almost everyone who is crazy wants to make a film.

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