E.L. Doctorow Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by E.L. Doctorow

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E.L. Doctorow Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from E.L. Doctorow on Wise Famous Quotes.

E.L. Doctorow quotes: Time seems to me a drift, a shifting of sand. And my mind is shifting with it. I am wearing away. Time seems to me a drift, a shifting of sand. And my mind is shifting with it. I am wearing away.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I can walk into a bookstore and hand over my credit card and they don't know who the hell I am. Maybe that says something about bookstore clerks. I can walk into a bookstore and hand over my credit card and they don't know who the hell I am. Maybe that says something about bookstore clerks.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: A novelist is a person who lives in other people's skins. A novelist is a person who lives in other people's skins.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The music of the Stones pounds the air like the amplified pulse of my erection. The music of the Stones pounds the air like the amplified pulse of my erection.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I am telling you what I know - words have music and if you are a musician you will write to hear them. I am telling you what I know - words have music and if you are a musician you will write to hear them.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: It's a kind of jail, the brain's mind. We've got these mysterious three-pound brains and they jail us. It's a kind of jail, the brain's mind. We've got these mysterious three-pound brains and they jail us.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I remember holding her in my arms and absolving God of meaninglessness. I remember holding her in my arms and absolving God of meaninglessness.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: It may be that the most avid readers of new fiction in America today are film producers, an indication of the trouble were in. It may be that the most avid readers of new fiction in America today are film producers, an indication of the trouble were in.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: To have the regard of one's peers is immensely moving. To have the regard of one's peers is immensely moving.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The three most important documents a free society gives are a birth certificate, a passport, and a library card. The three most important documents a free society gives are a birth certificate, a passport, and a library card.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I have been everywhere because I don't know what I'm looking for. I have been everywhere because I don't know what I'm looking for.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The philosophical conservative is someone willing to pay the price of other people s suffering for his principles. The philosophical conservative is someone willing to pay the price of other people s suffering for his principles.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader - not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon. Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader - not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I've had very little experience in my life. In fact, I try to avoid experience if I can. Most experience is bad. I've had very little experience in my life. In fact, I try to avoid experience if I can. Most experience is bad.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Perhaps we all reappear, perhaps all our lives are impositions one on another. Perhaps we all reappear, perhaps all our lives are impositions one on another.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I did have a feeling then that the culture of factuality was so dominating that storytelling had lost all its authority. I did have a feeling then that the culture of factuality was so dominating that storytelling had lost all its authority.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Writing is immensely difficult. The short forms especially. Writing is immensely difficult. The short forms especially.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I asked this question: How can I think about my brain when it's my brain doing the thinking? So is this brain pretending to be me thinking about it? I asked this question: How can I think about my brain when it's my brain doing the thinking? So is this brain pretending to be me thinking about it?
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Jacqueline, for how many days have I been without food. There was a crash, the whole house shook. Where is Langley? Where is my brother? Jacqueline, for how many days have I been without food. There was a crash, the whole house shook. Where is Langley? Where is my brother?
E.L. Doctorow quotes: When I'm writing, I like to seal everything off and face the wall, not to look outside the window. The only way out is through the sentences. When I'm writing, I like to seal everything off and face the wall, not to look outside the window. The only way out is through the sentences.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: And so do people pass out of one's life and all you can remember of them is their humanity, a poor fitful thing of no dominion, like your own. And so do people pass out of one's life and all you can remember of them is their humanity, a poor fitful thing of no dominion, like your own.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing. Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I got married very early, and in no time at all, we had three children. And it seemed to me I had an obligation to support them. I got married very early, and in no time at all, we had three children. And it seemed to me I had an obligation to support them.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: A writer of books has to admit that film is the enemy, and that in my case I have been sleeping with the enemy. A writer of books has to admit that film is the enemy, and that in my case I have been sleeping with the enemy.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I am often asked the question How can the masses permit themselves to be exploited by the few. The answer is By being persuaded to identify with them. I am often asked the question How can the masses permit themselves to be exploited by the few. The answer is By being persuaded to identify with them.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: My books start almost before I realise it. Once in a while, some accident causes an idea to rise to the surface and say: 'now.' My books start almost before I realise it. Once in a while, some accident causes an idea to rise to the surface and say: 'now.'
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I like to think of myself as an unmediated novelist - or perhaps a national novelist. I like to think of myself as an unmediated novelist - or perhaps a national novelist.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where it's a little raw and nervy. We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where it's a little raw and nervy.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The theory of the teacher with all these immigrant kids was that if you spoke English loudly enough they would eventually understand. The theory of the teacher with all these immigrant kids was that if you spoke English loudly enough they would eventually understand.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: ...if justice cannot be made to operate under the worst possible conditions of social hysteria, what does it matter how it operates at other times? ...if justice cannot be made to operate under the worst possible conditions of social hysteria, what does it matter how it operates at other times?
E.L. Doctorow quotes: In fiction, you know, there are no borders. You can go anywhere. In fiction, you know, there are no borders. You can go anywhere.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The experience of experience is untransmittable. The experience of experience is untransmittable.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Somewhere along the line the rhythms and tonalities of music elided in my brain with the sounds that words make and the rhythm that sentences have. Somewhere along the line the rhythms and tonalities of music elided in my brain with the sounds that words make and the rhythm that sentences have.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The voice of the Constitution is the inescapably solemn self-consciousness of the people giving the law unto themselves. The voice of the Constitution is the inescapably solemn self-consciousness of the people giving the law unto themselves.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: And when a song is good, a standard, we recognize it as expressing a truth. Like a formula, it can apply to everyone, not just the singer. And when a song is good, a standard, we recognize it as expressing a truth. Like a formula, it can apply to everyone, not just the singer.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Where most people live, most of us, imagining it to be the real sunlit world when it is only a cave lit by the flickering fires of illusion. Where most people live, most of us, imagining it to be the real sunlit world when it is only a cave lit by the flickering fires of illusion.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Facts are the images of history, just as images are the facts of fiction. Facts are the images of history, just as images are the facts of fiction.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The bad news is that if we do in fact get off the earth we will contaminate the rest of the universe with our moral insufficiency. The bad news is that if we do in fact get off the earth we will contaminate the rest of the universe with our moral insufficiency.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: If you feel a bump on page one hundred, it may be you went off on page fifty. If you feel a bump on page one hundred, it may be you went off on page fifty.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: You're nothing more than a clever prostitute. You accepted the conditions in which you found yourself and you triumphed. You're nothing more than a clever prostitute. You accepted the conditions in which you found yourself and you triumphed.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Children have a lot more to worry about from the parents who raised them than from the books they read. Children have a lot more to worry about from the parents who raised them than from the books they read.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Orthodox devotions that do not let in the light of modern knowledge are no more than a form of ancestor worship. Orthodox devotions that do not let in the light of modern knowledge are no more than a form of ancestor worship.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: It is the law of wealth that such people only profit from the money that is taken from them. It is the law of wealth that such people only profit from the money that is taken from them.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: 19. I wrote in my notebook that even if all the possible scientific questions are answered, our problem is still not touched at all. 19. I wrote in my notebook that even if all the possible scientific questions are answered, our problem is still not touched at all.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: One of the things I had to learn as a writer was to trust the act of writing. To put myself in the position of writing to find out what One of the things I had to learn as a writer was to trust the act of writing. To put myself in the position of writing to find out what I was writing.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: My sense of what a book should be has changed so radically. I like to think for the better. My sense of what a book should be has changed so radically. I like to think for the better.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: History is the present. That's why every generation writes it anew. But what most people think of as history is its end product, myth. History is the present. That's why every generation writes it anew. But what most people think of as history is its end product, myth.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Anyone at any age is able to tell the story of his or her life with authority. Anyone at any age is able to tell the story of his or her life with authority.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: It seems to me that in literature, books have always been answers to other books. It seems to me that in literature, books have always been answers to other books.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Happiness consists of living in the dailiness of life and not knowing how happy you are. True happiness comes of not knowing you're happy. Happiness consists of living in the dailiness of life and not knowing how happy you are. True happiness comes of not knowing you're happy.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative. There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I have a number of vices, one of which is moderation. I have a number of vices, one of which is moderation.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Longing, the hope for fulfillment, is the one unwavering passion of the world's commerce. Longing, the hope for fulfillment, is the one unwavering passion of the world's commerce.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The nature of good fiction is that it dwells in ambiguity. The nature of good fiction is that it dwells in ambiguity.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Books are acts of composition: you compose them. You make music: the music is called fiction. Books are acts of composition: you compose them. You make music: the music is called fiction.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I worry about images. Images are what things mean. I worry about images. Images are what things mean.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: When you're working well, you don't do research. Whatever you need comes to you. When you're working well, you don't do research. Whatever you need comes to you.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Most people are quiet in the world, and live in it tentatively, as if it were not their own. Most people are quiet in the world, and live in it tentatively, as if it were not their own.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I thought I would lose, so I didn't prepare a speech. I thought I would lose, so I didn't prepare a speech.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Things that appear on the front page of the newspaper as 'fact' are far more dangerous than the games played by a novelist, and can lead to wars. Things that appear on the front page of the newspaper as 'fact' are far more dangerous than the games played by a novelist, and can lead to wars.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I thought of myself as a writer for years before I got around to writing anything. I thought of myself as a writer for years before I got around to writing anything.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The marriage seemed to flourish on Father's extended absences. " Ragtime The marriage seemed to flourish on Father's extended absences. " Ragtime
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Whenever citizens are seen routinely as enemies of their own government, writers are rountinely seen to be the most dangerous enemies. Whenever citizens are seen routinely as enemies of their own government, writers are rountinely seen to be the most dangerous enemies.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Like art and politics, gangsterism is a very important avenue of assimilation into society. Like art and politics, gangsterism is a very important avenue of assimilation into society.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing. Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Communists have no respect for people, only for positions. Communists have no respect for people, only for positions.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: A new reader shouldn't be able to find you in your work, though someone who's read more may begin to. A new reader shouldn't be able to find you in your work, though someone who's read more may begin to.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Someone dying asks if there is life after death. Yes, comes the answer, only not yours. Someone dying asks if there is life after death. Yes, comes the answer, only not yours.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: A book is not complete until it's read A book is not complete until it's read
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The historian will tell you what happened. The novelist will tell you what it felt like. The historian will tell you what happened. The novelist will tell you what it felt like.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I take the position that true faith is not a supersessional knowledge. It cannot discard the intellect. I take the position that true faith is not a supersessional knowledge. It cannot discard the intellect.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Dad is always hiding in his book. Dad is always hiding in his book.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: [Freud] "sat in his quiet cozy study in Vienna, glad to be back. He said to Ernest Jones, America is a mistake, a gigantic mistake." Ragtime [Freud] "sat in his quiet cozy study in Vienna, glad to be back. He said to Ernest Jones, America is a mistake, a gigantic mistake." Ragtime
E.L. Doctorow quotes: She's some kind of Socialist-anarchist-anarcho-syndicalist-Communist. Unless you're one of them you can't tell exactly what any of them are. She's some kind of Socialist-anarchist-anarcho-syndicalist-Communist. Unless you're one of them you can't tell exactly what any of them are.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Morgan had ordered a light lunch. They did not say much as they dined without other Morgan had ordered a light lunch. They did not say much as they dined without other
E.L. Doctorow quotes: He was a moody, distracted young fellow, and it was clear his own mind was more company to him than people were. He was a moody, distracted young fellow, and it was clear his own mind was more company to him than people were.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time you compose a book your composition of yourself is at stake. Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time you compose a book your composition of yourself is at stake.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I am led to the proposition that there is no fiction or nonfiction as we commonly understand the distinction: there is only narrative. I am led to the proposition that there is no fiction or nonfiction as we commonly understand the distinction: there is only narrative.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: It was evident to him that the world composed and recomposed itself constantly in an endless process of dissatisfaction. It was evident to him that the world composed and recomposed itself constantly in an endless process of dissatisfaction.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: And what if neutrinos in their uncountable multitudinous dark-matteredness gravitationally directing the universe ... are the souls of the dead? And what if neutrinos in their uncountable multitudinous dark-matteredness gravitationally directing the universe ... are the souls of the dead?
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Support of the Mexican Revolution. He hadn't known Support of the Mexican Revolution. He hadn't known
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The forms of life were volatile and that everything in the world could as easily be something else. The forms of life were volatile and that everything in the world could as easily be something else.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: I'm Homer, the blind brother. I'm Homer, the blind brother.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Stories distribute the suffering so that it can be borne. Stories distribute the suffering so that it can be borne.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The poem is a cry of the unborn heart. Yes, because the poem perfectly embodies the world, there is no world without poem. The poem is a cry of the unborn heart. Yes, because the poem perfectly embodies the world, there is no world without poem.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Every major work of art is a transgression, but the artist is not necessarily, by nature, a transgressor. Every major work of art is a transgression, but the artist is not necessarily, by nature, a transgressor.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is because we need witnesses to this terrifying century. The writer isn't made in a vacuum. Writers are witnesses. The reason we need writers is because we need witnesses to this terrifying century.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Planning to write is not writing. Planning to write is not writing.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Poems have ideas. The ideas of poems come out of their emotions and their emotions are carried on images. Poems have ideas. The ideas of poems come out of their emotions and their emotions are carried on images.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Father looked at her and she was beautiful in the way she had been as a girl. He did not realize the pleasure he felt in having made her cry. Father looked at her and she was beautiful in the way she had been as a girl. He did not realize the pleasure he felt in having made her cry.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: We make a mistake to condescend to the past as if it were preparatory to our own time. We make a mistake to condescend to the past as if it were preparatory to our own time.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: It was as if God had decreed this characterless engagement of brainless forces as his answer to the human presumption. It was as if God had decreed this characterless engagement of brainless forces as his answer to the human presumption.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: We are all good friends. Friendship is what endures. Shared ideals, respect for the whole character of a human being. We are all good friends. Friendship is what endures. Shared ideals, respect for the whole character of a human being.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: A book begins as a private excitement of the mind. A book begins as a private excitement of the mind.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The images of things are not the things in themselves. The images of things are not the things in themselves.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: Consciousness without world is impossible, just as there is no sight without the light to see by. Is that your objection, Consciousness without world is impossible, just as there is no sight without the light to see by. Is that your objection,
E.L. Doctorow quotes: When crime was working as it was supposed to it was very dull. Very lucrative and very dull. When crime was working as it was supposed to it was very dull. Very lucrative and very dull.
E.L. Doctorow quotes: The Shadow had no imagination. He neither looked at naked women nor thought of ridding the world of dictators like Hitler or Mussolini. The Shadow had no imagination. He neither looked at naked women nor thought of ridding the world of dictators like Hitler or Mussolini.

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