Edmund White Quotes

Top 87 wise famous quotes and sayings by Edmund White

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Edmund White Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Edmund White on Wise Famous Quotes.

Edmund White quotes: These rejections hurt me terribly because I felt it was my life that was being rejected. These rejections hurt me terribly because I felt it was my life that was being rejected.
Edmund White quotes: It always seemed much better to be a writer - a Real Writer - than a successful hack. It always seemed much better to be a writer - a Real Writer - than a successful hack.
Edmund White quotes: The imagination is not the consolation people pretend. It can even be regarded as the admission of some sort of failure. The imagination is not the consolation people pretend. It can even be regarded as the admission of some sort of failure.
Edmund White quotes: In a memoir, your main contract with the reader is to tell the truth, no matter how bizarre. In a memoir, your main contract with the reader is to tell the truth, no matter how bizarre.
Edmund White quotes: A straight writer can write a gay novel and not worry about it, and a gay novelist can write about straight people. A straight writer can write a gay novel and not worry about it, and a gay novelist can write about straight people.
Edmund White quotes: Wasn't it correct in America to call a man 'handsome' rather than 'beautiful'? Wasn't it correct in America to call a man 'handsome' rather than 'beautiful'?
Edmund White quotes: They all said the way to a man's heart was through his asshole. They all said the way to a man's heart was through his asshole.
Edmund White quotes: I asked my body if it was going to die or not from AIDS. And it said 'no.' I sort of paid attention to that. I asked my body if it was going to die or not from AIDS. And it said 'no.' I sort of paid attention to that.
Edmund White quotes: When my lover Hubert Sorin was dying of AIDS, he was always trying to fix me up - posthumously, as it were - with the cute busboy at the hotel. When my lover Hubert Sorin was dying of AIDS, he was always trying to fix me up - posthumously, as it were - with the cute busboy at the hotel.
Edmund White quotes: The most important things in our intimate lives can't be discussed with strangers, except in books. The most important things in our intimate lives can't be discussed with strangers, except in books.
Edmund White quotes: You always look your age, down to the last minute, You always look your age, down to the last minute,
Edmund White quotes: I've always seen writing as a way of telling the truth. For me, writing is about truth. I have always tried to be faithful to my own experience. I've always seen writing as a way of telling the truth. For me, writing is about truth. I have always tried to be faithful to my own experience.
Edmund White quotes: One of the side benefits of staying in the closet is you can have a much bigger career. One of the side benefits of staying in the closet is you can have a much bigger career.
Edmund White quotes: Yet New York is always the chef, never the diner. Being Yet New York is always the chef, never the diner. Being
Edmund White quotes: Biography can be the most middle-class of all forms, the judgment of little people avenging themselves on the great. Biography can be the most middle-class of all forms, the judgment of little people avenging themselves on the great.
Edmund White quotes: He thought to himself, I'll never be this perfect again, an idea that made him sad. He thought to himself, I'll never be this perfect again, an idea that made him sad.
Edmund White quotes: Most writers tend to get worse rather than better. I'm determined to be one that gets better. Most writers tend to get worse rather than better. I'm determined to be one that gets better.
Edmund White quotes: On Fire Island everyone was in a Speedo pulling a wagon of groceries across the bumpy boardwalk; you couldn't tell the houseboys from the bankers. On Fire Island everyone was in a Speedo pulling a wagon of groceries across the bumpy boardwalk; you couldn't tell the houseboys from the bankers.
Edmund White quotes: Guy thought of the Greek word agon, wasn't it at once an athletic contest and a style of suffering, an agony? Guy thought of the Greek word agon, wasn't it at once an athletic contest and a style of suffering, an agony?
Edmund White quotes: He was amused by their 'ass stories' (histoires de cul) told over morning coffee at noon about their exploits the night before. He was amused by their 'ass stories' (histoires de cul) told over morning coffee at noon about their exploits the night before.
Edmund White quotes: Gratitude is my chief erotic emotion. Gratitude is my chief erotic emotion.
Edmund White quotes: Is that how you stay so fresh and young, drinking the sperm of teenage males? Is that how you stay so fresh and young, drinking the sperm of teenage males?
Edmund White quotes: I still feel that sincerity and realism are avant-garde, or can be, just as I did when I started out. I still feel that sincerity and realism are avant-garde, or can be, just as I did when I started out.
Edmund White quotes: Guy believed everything in sex should be done slowly so as not to scare the wildlife and to ensure his own natural grace and poise. Guy believed everything in sex should be done slowly so as not to scare the wildlife and to ensure his own natural grace and poise.
Edmund White quotes: Paris can be like the land of the Lotus-Eaters. You can't leave. Paris can be like the land of the Lotus-Eaters. You can't leave.
Edmund White quotes: You are the Perfect Young Man: honest, clean, virile. You are the Perfect Young Man: honest, clean, virile.
Edmund White quotes: Americans consider the sidewalk an anonymous backstage space, whereas for the French it is the stage itself. Americans consider the sidewalk an anonymous backstage space, whereas for the French it is the stage itself.
Edmund White quotes: Guy's own erection was so hard it ached, as if it were an angry dog begging to be let out and pawing at the door. Guy's own erection was so hard it ached, as if it were an angry dog begging to be let out and pawing at the door.
Edmund White quotes: I don't have to get married myself in order to campaign on behalf of gay marriage. I don't have to get married myself in order to campaign on behalf of gay marriage.
Edmund White quotes: I'd rather come back with a few transcendent memories than an album of snapshots. I'd rather come back with a few transcendent memories than an album of snapshots.
Edmund White quotes: The first version of The Beautiful Room Is Empty was the first mss. I'd ever submitted to New York editors. The first version of The Beautiful Room Is Empty was the first mss. I'd ever submitted to New York editors.
Edmund White quotes: Suddenly nothing in the world seemed to Guy more glamorous than homosexuality, as romantic as heady white gardenias nested in polished green leaves. Suddenly nothing in the world seemed to Guy more glamorous than homosexuality, as romantic as heady white gardenias nested in polished green leaves.
Edmund White quotes: The natural enmity between leaver and left is like the absolute, immediate and always shifting hostility between driver and pedestrian. The natural enmity between leaver and left is like the absolute, immediate and always shifting hostility between driver and pedestrian.
Edmund White quotes: Nor did Kevin go, "Ew-w," when he pulled his penis out and it was brown and smelly, and that, too, Guy considered a rite de passage. Nor did Kevin go, "Ew-w," when he pulled his penis out and it was brown and smelly, and that, too, Guy considered a rite de passage.
Edmund White quotes: America was the attic of French culture. America was the attic of French culture.
Edmund White quotes: For me a current lover has always been like whatever current book I'm writing - an obsessive project orienting all my thoughts. For me a current lover has always been like whatever current book I'm writing - an obsessive project orienting all my thoughts.
Edmund White quotes: Saint Guy of Anderlecht was the tenth-century Belgian saint of animals, stables, workhorses, and bachelors. Saint Guy of Anderlecht was the tenth-century Belgian saint of animals, stables, workhorses, and bachelors.
Edmund White quotes: Stendhal had said a Frenchman was an Italian in a bad mood. Stendhal had said a Frenchman was an Italian in a bad mood.
Edmund White quotes: Psychoanalysis feeds on intensity, as though life were all flame and no ash. Psychoanalysis feeds on intensity, as though life were all flame and no ash.
Edmund White quotes: I was never an assimilationist. I always thought gays had some special mission. I was never an assimilationist. I always thought gays had some special mission.
Edmund White quotes: Suffering does make us more sensitive until it crushes us completely. Suffering does make us more sensitive until it crushes us completely.
Edmund White quotes: What if I can't get it up?" Guy wailed."That's of no importance if you're on the right end of a whip. What if I can't get it up?" Guy wailed.
"That's of no importance if you're on the right end of a whip.
Edmund White quotes: Of course the success of A Boy's Own Story took me utterly off guard. Of course the success of A Boy's Own Story took me utterly off guard.
Edmund White quotes: His ribs were as visible as hands around a cup. His ribs were as visible as hands around a cup.
Edmund White quotes: Paris ... is a world meant for the walker alone, for only the pace of strolling can take in all the rich (if muted) detail. Paris ... is a world meant for the walker alone, for only the pace of strolling can take in all the rich (if muted) detail.
Edmund White quotes: In return for ten minutes of pleasure they design the rest of the day. In return for ten minutes of pleasure they design the rest of the day.
Edmund White quotes: Was a glimpse of his cock worth a Mercedes? Was a glimpse of his cock worth a Mercedes?
Edmund White quotes: The notion that I might have been able to court friends, win attention, conjure it, would have spoiled it for me. Unbidden love was what I wanted. The notion that I might have been able to court friends, win attention, conjure it, would have spoiled it for me. Unbidden love was what I wanted.
Edmund White quotes: In the 1970s in New York everyone slept till noon. In the 1970s in New York everyone slept till noon.
Edmund White quotes: Nothing lasts in New York. The life that is lived there, however, is as intense as it gets. Nothing lasts in New York. The life that is lived there, however, is as intense as it gets.
Edmund White quotes: The Internet's impact is immense. My students can't imagine ever paying for a book. The Internet's impact is immense. My students can't imagine ever paying for a book.
Edmund White quotes: All his leisure clothes were absurd - jokes, really - as though leisure itself had to be ridiculed. All his leisure clothes were absurd - jokes, really - as though leisure itself had to be ridiculed.
Edmund White quotes: Real men don't moisturise. Real men don't moisturise.
Edmund White quotes: The Parisians looked at each other constantly but were more curious about each other's shoes than their sexual availability. The Parisians looked at each other constantly but were more curious about each other's shoes than their sexual availability.
Edmund White quotes: Older guys have too much emotional baggage. They've already lived their lives. Older guys have too much emotional baggage. They've already lived their lives.
Edmund White quotes: I'd learned to feel nostalgia for my own youth while I was living it. I'd learned to feel nostalgia for my own youth while I was living it.
Edmund White quotes: Perhaps no other body of literature is as subject to political pressures from within the community as gay fiction. Perhaps no other body of literature is as subject to political pressures from within the community as gay fiction.
Edmund White quotes: As you can hear, it's difficult to learn another language after forty. As you can hear, it's difficult to learn another language after forty.
Edmund White quotes: Just think of dick as pussy on a stick. Just think of dick as pussy on a stick.
Edmund White quotes: I was always ambitious - not to make money: to be published. I was always ambitious - not to make money: to be published.
Edmund White quotes: For these people religion is the only form of intellectuality. For these people religion is the only form of intellectuality.
Edmund White quotes: Had he already inspired a passion in some stranger's heart? Had he already inspired a passion in some stranger's heart?
Edmund White quotes: Women and gay men have something in common after all: in that they are trying to deal with this goofy egotistical monster called a man. Women and gay men have something in common after all: in that they are trying to deal with this goofy egotistical monster called a man.
Edmund White quotes: I hate writing. I almost never write. I write against deadlines. And when I'm teaching, I'm focused on that. I hate writing. I almost never write. I write against deadlines. And when I'm teaching, I'm focused on that.
Edmund White quotes: Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom. Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.
Edmund White quotes: Sometimes Peggy herself would sell tickets to her museum, and if tourists asked her if Mrs. Guggenheim was still alive, she'd assure them she wasn't. Sometimes Peggy herself would sell tickets to her museum, and if tourists asked her if Mrs. Guggenheim was still alive, she'd assure them she wasn't.
Edmund White quotes: What did they say about Helen of Troy? That her face launched a thousand ships? That's you, you're that beautiful. A thousand ships. What did they say about Helen of Troy? That her face launched a thousand ships? That's you, you're that beautiful. A thousand ships.
Edmund White quotes: They kept flipping back and forth, but it wasn't clear which was the more exquisitely pleasurable pain, to penetrate or to be penetrated. They kept flipping back and forth, but it wasn't clear which was the more exquisitely pleasurable pain, to penetrate or to be penetrated.
Edmund White quotes: Don't let him lead you astray, my child. He's such a wicked man, woof! Don't let him lead you astray, my child. He's such a wicked man, woof!
Edmund White quotes: At certain crucial moments - an emergency or an opportunity - one must act first and think later. At certain crucial moments - an emergency or an opportunity - one must act first and think later.
Edmund White quotes: Hell is God's Absence. Hell is God's Absence.
Edmund White quotes: I think I could be a cook. Everybody always says I'm good, though I think it's quite gruelling as a profession. I think I could be a cook. Everybody always says I'm good, though I think it's quite gruelling as a profession.
Edmund White quotes: Some writers are so enthralled by ideas (one thinks of Doris Lessing) that their characters become debaters, and their fables approach allegory. Some writers are so enthralled by ideas (one thinks of Doris Lessing) that their characters become debaters, and their fables approach allegory.
Edmund White quotes: I saw literature as a fantasy, no less absorbing for all its irrelevance - a parallel life, as dreams shadow waking but never intersect it. I saw literature as a fantasy, no less absorbing for all its irrelevance - a parallel life, as dreams shadow waking but never intersect it.
Edmund White quotes: I was too prissy, too refined, too abstemious, too French to be a good American writer. I was too prissy, too refined, too abstemious, too French to be a good American writer.
Edmund White quotes: You say that you don't care about age and that you're ready to push the wheelchair and hose down my bum, but how can you be sure? You say that you don't care about age and that you're ready to push the wheelchair and hose down my bum, but how can you be sure?
Edmund White quotes: In writing one draws in the rest, the forgotten parts. In writing one draws in the rest, the forgotten parts.
Edmund White quotes: I think sincerity was my sole aesthetic and realism my experimental technique. I think sincerity was my sole aesthetic and realism my experimental technique.
Edmund White quotes: When I was in college, I was always saying I was a socialist. When I was in college, I was always saying I was a socialist.
Edmund White quotes: Someone once remarked that in adolescence pornography is a substitute for sex, whereas in adulthood sex is a substitute for pornography. Someone once remarked that in adolescence pornography is a substitute for sex, whereas in adulthood sex is a substitute for pornography.
Edmund White quotes: New York has been the subject of thousands of books. Every immigrant group has had its saga as has every epoch and social class. New York has been the subject of thousands of books. Every immigrant group has had its saga as has every epoch and social class.
Edmund White quotes: AIDS had won gays sympathy; they no longer seemed the privileged brats that the general populace had resented in the 1970s. AIDS had won gays sympathy; they no longer seemed the privileged brats that the general populace had resented in the 1970s.
Edmund White quotes: I think I'm very stoic. Death and dying are things that I'm used to. I think I'm very stoic. Death and dying are things that I'm used to.
Edmund White quotes: So," he said. "What's the difference between me and a whore?" He swallowed. "Am I a whore?""No more than every married woman. So," he said. "What's the difference between me and a whore?" He swallowed. "Am I a whore?"
"No more than every married woman.
Edmund White quotes: If the baron is a masochist himself, then why would he attract another masochist? I suppose he wants someone cute to attract other sadists. If the baron is a masochist himself, then why would he attract another masochist? I suppose he wants someone cute to attract other sadists.
Edmund White quotes: Fiction is the thing I esteem most in my own work; I feel that, even if it's no good, only I could have written those books. Fiction is the thing I esteem most in my own work; I feel that, even if it's no good, only I could have written those books.
Edmund White quotes: I longed for literary celebrity even as I saw with my own eyes how little happiness it brought. I longed for literary celebrity even as I saw with my own eyes how little happiness it brought.

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