James Salter quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by James Salter

James Salter Famous Quotes & Sayings

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

James Salter quotes: I always knew writing a novel was a great thing.

I always knew writing a novel was a great thing.

James Salter quotes: I don't fear death. I'm not obsessed with it the way everybody else seems to be.

I don't fear death. I'm not obsessed with it the way everybody else seems to be.

James Salter quotes: There comes a time in life, when you realize that everything is a dream; only those things which are written down have any possibility of being real.

There comes a time in life, when you realize that everything is a dream; only those things which are written down have any possibility of being real.

James Salter quotes: We live in the attention of others. We turn to it as flowers to the sun.

We live in the attention of others. We turn to it as flowers to the sun.

James Salter quotes: Life passes into pages if it passes into anything.

Life passes into pages if it passes into anything.

James Salter quotes: You have your brains, but it's energy and desire that make you write a book.

You have your brains, but it's energy and desire that make you write a book.

James Salter quotes: ONE OF THE LAST GREAT REALIZATIONS is that life will not be what you dreamed.

ONE OF THE LAST GREAT REALIZATIONS is that life will not be what you dreamed.

James Salter quotes: West Pointers tend to be rigorously honest - more than necessary, in my view.

West Pointers tend to be rigorously honest - more than necessary, in my view.

James Salter quotes: A light snow, a snow so faint and small-bodied that it seems nothing more than a manifestation of the cold.

A light snow, a snow so faint and small-bodied that it seems nothing more than a manifestation of the cold.

James Salter quotes: As Rilke says, there are no classes for beginners in life, the most difficult thing is always asked of one right away.

As Rilke says, there are no classes for beginners in life, the most difficult thing is always asked of one right away.

James Salter quotes: I deem as heroic those who have the harder task, face it unflinchingly and live. In this world women do that.

I deem as heroic those who have the harder task, face it unflinchingly and live. In this world women do that.

James Salter quotes: There came a time when I felt I was not going to be satisfied with life unless I could write.

There came a time when I felt I was not going to be satisfied with life unless I could write.

James Salter quotes: For those we are born to speak to we need prepare nothing, the lines are ready, everything is there.

For those we are born to speak to we need prepare nothing, the lines are ready, everything is there.

James Salter quotes: Dresscodes are for styleless people.

Dresscodes are for styleless people.

James Salter quotes: I can't explain it. It's what turns you to powder, being ground between what you can't do and what you must do. You just turn to dust.

I can't explain it. It's what turns you to powder, being ground between what you can't do and what you must do. You just turn to dust.

James Salter quotes: He knew all the constellations. He had seen them rise in darkness over heartbreaking coasts.

He knew all the constellations. He had seen them rise in darkness over heartbreaking coasts.

James Salter quotes: Love must wait; it must break one's bones.

Love must wait; it must break one's bones.

James Salter quotes: Not necessarily narrow so much as impatient, intense.

Not necessarily narrow so much as impatient, intense.

James Salter quotes: I like aristocracy. I like the beauty of aristocracy. I like the hierarchical feeling.

I like aristocracy. I like the beauty of aristocracy. I like the hierarchical feeling.

James Salter quotes: I wasted time writing films. I don't look back on those years as lost, but it wasn't what I should have been doing.

I wasted time writing films. I don't look back on those years as lost, but it wasn't what I should have been doing.

James Salter quotes: What is the ultimate impulse to write? Because all this is going to vanish.

What is the ultimate impulse to write? Because all this is going to vanish.

James Salter quotes: The normal economic system works itself.

The normal economic system works itself.

James Salter quotes: Lots of scripts are written and not made, even scripts that people want to make.

Lots of scripts are written and not made, even scripts that people want to make.

James Salter quotes: Hope but not enthusiasm is the proper state for the writer.

Hope but not enthusiasm is the proper state for the writer.

James Salter quotes: In a certain sense, a writer is an exile, an outsider, always reporting on things, and it is part of his life to keep on the move. Travel is natural.

In a certain sense, a writer is an exile, an outsider, always reporting on things, and it is part of his life to keep on the move. Travel is natural.

James Salter quotes: He unrolls names like a splendid carpet.

He unrolls names like a splendid carpet.

James Salter quotes: Sometimes you are aware when your great moments are happening, and sometimes they rise from the past. Perhaps it's the same with people.

Sometimes you are aware when your great moments are happening, and sometimes they rise from the past. Perhaps it's the same with people.

James Salter quotes: Normally, what you're envious of is a book, not a writer: standards, ideas, levels ... almost nonexistent things.

Normally, what you're envious of is a book, not a writer: standards, ideas, levels ... almost nonexistent things.

James Salter quotes: The whole joy of writing comes from the opportunity to go over it and make it good, one way or another.

The whole joy of writing comes from the opportunity to go over it and make it good, one way or another.

James Salter quotes: Every nation feels itself to be superior, but in America it's a jaunty feeling, and in some cases a rather ominous one among the super-patriots.

Every nation feels itself to be superior, but in America it's a jaunty feeling, and in some cases a rather ominous one among the super-patriots.

James Salter quotes: He was the friend of my life. You know, you only have one friend like that; there can't be two.

He was the friend of my life. You know, you only have one friend like that; there can't be two.

James Salter quotes: If you write enough, you begin to learn to do things. But in a way, you do start from zero each time.

If you write enough, you begin to learn to do things. But in a way, you do start from zero each time.

James Salter quotes: Now they are lovers. The first, wild courses are ended. They have founded their domain. A satanic happiness follows.

Now they are lovers. The first, wild courses are ended. They have founded their domain. A satanic happiness follows.

James Salter quotes: There is no real beauty without some slight imperfection.

There is no real beauty without some slight imperfection.

James Salter quotes: Life is weather. Life is meals,

Life is weather. Life is meals,

James Salter quotes: You are perfectly entitled to invent your life and to claim that it's true.

You are perfectly entitled to invent your life and to claim that it's true.

James Salter quotes: I've always said that I felt women are more heroic.

I've always said that I felt women are more heroic.

James Salter quotes: The heart is in darkness, unknowing, like those animals in mines that have never seen the day. It has no loyalties, no hopes; it has its task.

The heart is in darkness, unknowing, like those animals in mines that have never seen the day. It has no loyalties, no hopes; it has its task.

James Salter quotes: Written pages are something that can be returned to, reclaimed, and when they are marvelous, never lose their power.

Written pages are something that can be returned to, reclaimed, and when they are marvelous, never lose their power.

James Salter quotes: It was love, the furnace into which everything was dropped.

It was love, the furnace into which everything was dropped.

James Salter quotes: One alters the past to form the future but there is a real significance to the pattern which finally appears, which resists all further change.

One alters the past to form the future but there is a real significance to the pattern which finally appears, which resists all further change.

James Salter quotes: One should not believe too easily in a life which can easily vanish.

One should not believe too easily in a life which can easily vanish.

James Salter quotes: She comes to life with a soft exhausted sound, like someone saved from drowning.

She comes to life with a soft exhausted sound, like someone saved from drowning.

James Salter quotes: Suddenly I am crushed by the simplicity of it all: he is leaving.

Suddenly I am crushed by the simplicity of it all: he is leaving.

James Salter quotes: The deepest instinct is to want to do something enduring, something worthwhile, and to be engaged by that, whether one achieves it or not.

The deepest instinct is to want to do something enduring, something worthwhile, and to be engaged by that, whether one achieves it or not.

James Salter quotes: A name, of course is like a piece of clothing, isn't it? It gives you an impression right away.

A name, of course is like a piece of clothing, isn't it? It gives you an impression right away.

James Salter quotes: The writers of books are companions in one's life and, as such, are often more interesting than other companions.

The writers of books are companions in one's life and, as such, are often more interesting than other companions.

James Salter quotes: He lived in it helplessly as we live in our bodies when we are older.

He lived in it helplessly as we live in our bodies when we are older.

James Salter quotes: You can't be admitted to the ranks of writers of importance unless you have sales.

You can't be admitted to the ranks of writers of importance unless you have sales.

James Salter quotes: It's just that it's hard to believe in greatness ...

It's just that it's hard to believe in greatness ...

James Salter quotes: One should not believe too strongly in a life which can easily vanish.

One should not believe too strongly in a life which can easily vanish.

James Salter quotes: Writers really don't retire, you know. They have to be taken out and shot.

Writers really don't retire, you know. They have to be taken out and shot.

James Salter quotes: Events need their invitation, dissolutions their start.

Events need their invitation, dissolutions their start.

James Salter quotes: The death of kings can be recited, but not of one's child.

The death of kings can be recited, but not of one's child.

James Salter quotes: My ideal is a book that is perfect on every page, that gives you tremendous aesthetic joy on every page. I suppose I am trying to write such a book.

My ideal is a book that is perfect on every page, that gives you tremendous aesthetic joy on every page. I suppose I am trying to write such a book.

James Salter quotes: I would say that I am a jaded man beyond most expectations, but, like everyone else, I still have hope.

I would say that I am a jaded man beyond most expectations, but, like everyone else, I still have hope.

James Salter quotes: I am creating him out of my own inadequacies, you must remember that

I am creating him out of my own inadequacies, you must remember that

James Salter quotes: There comes a time when you realize that everything is a dream, and only those things preserved in writing have any possibility of being real.

There comes a time when you realize that everything is a dream, and only those things preserved in writing have any possibility of being real.

James Salter quotes: As I look back, I see that life is like a game of solitaire and every once in a while there is a move.

As I look back, I see that life is like a game of solitaire and every once in a while there is a move.

James Salter quotes: It is always an accident that saves us. It is someone we have never seen.

It is always an accident that saves us. It is someone we have never seen.

James Salter quotes: I write in longhand. I am accustomed to that proximity, that feel of writing. Then I sit down and type.

I write in longhand. I am accustomed to that proximity, that feel of writing. Then I sit down and type.

James Salter quotes: Solitude. One knows instinctively it has benefits that must be more deeply satisfying than those of other conditions, but still it is difficult.

Solitude. One knows instinctively it has benefits that must be more deeply satisfying than those of other conditions, but still it is difficult.

James Salter quotes: On the Internet, everyone is writing. There is a great flowering of writing.

On the Internet, everyone is writing. There is a great flowering of writing.

James Salter quotes: We were moderate, we will never know what it is to spill out our lives ...

We were moderate, we will never know what it is to spill out our lives ...

James Salter quotes: In 1957, I decided: write or perish.

In 1957, I decided: write or perish.

James Salter quotes: Most writers can write three times as many books as I have and still live a life.

Most writers can write three times as many books as I have and still live a life.

James Salter quotes: I've made an effort to nurture the feminine in myself. I don't mean overtly, but in terms of response to things.

I've made an effort to nurture the feminine in myself. I don't mean overtly, but in terms of response to things.

James Salter quotes: The dreams are the skeleton of all reality.

The dreams are the skeleton of all reality.

James Salter quotes: I like to write about certain things that if they are not written about are not going to exist.

I like to write about certain things that if they are not written about are not going to exist.

James Salter quotes: He no longer lives in years; he is down to seasons. Finally it will become single nights, each one perilous as a lunar journey. He

He no longer lives in years; he is down to seasons. Finally it will become single nights, each one perilous as a lunar journey. He

James Salter quotes: It's tremendous: this world, this life. Take it while you have it.

It's tremendous: this world, this life. Take it while you have it.

James Salter quotes: You're so American. You believe everything is possible, everything will come. I know differently.

You're so American. You believe everything is possible, everything will come. I know differently.

James Salter quotes: Incandescent afternoons in Spain, the shutters closed, a blade of sun burning into the darkness.

Incandescent afternoons in Spain, the shutters closed, a blade of sun burning into the darkness.

James Salter quotes: I'd say the biggest relationship is the repetition of certain themes. I don't want to say "topics," but certain points of interest.

I'd say the biggest relationship is the repetition of certain themes. I don't want to say "topics," but certain points of interest.

James Salter quotes: Art, in a sense, is life brought to a standstill, rescued from time. The secret of making it is simple: discard everything that is good enough.

Art, in a sense, is life brought to a standstill, rescued from time. The secret of making it is simple: discard everything that is good enough.

James Salter quotes: When she said goodbye it was like a play ending. It was like the theater and coming out again to the streets.

When she said goodbye it was like a play ending. It was like the theater and coming out again to the streets.

James Salter quotes: Happiness is often at its most intense when it is based on inequality.

Happiness is often at its most intense when it is based on inequality.

James Salter quotes: As a writer, you aren't anybody until you become somebody.

As a writer, you aren't anybody until you become somebody.

James Salter quotes: I am afraid of him, of all men who are successful in love.

I am afraid of him, of all men who are successful in love.