John Irving Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by John Irving

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John Irving Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from John Irving on Wise Famous Quotes.

John Irving quotes: You think you have a memory; but it has you! Later, You think you have a memory; but it has you! Later,
John Irving quotes: (As a novelist, he was a little fussy about chronological order, a tad old-fashioned.) (As a novelist, he was a little fussy about chronological order, a tad old-fashioned.)
John Irving quotes: I didn't try to say the penis word for Elaine. "Cock," I said to her. I didn't try to say the penis word for Elaine. "Cock," I said to her.
John Irving quotes: Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved? Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?
John Irving quotes: Buster was queer as a cat fart. Buster was queer as a cat fart.
John Irving quotes: And maybe it was fair; if a book was any good, it was a slap in the face to someone. And maybe it was fair; if a book was any good, it was a slap in the face to someone.
John Irving quotes: Most places we leave in childhood grow less, not more, fancy. Most places we leave in childhood grow less, not more, fancy.
John Irving quotes: There are moments when time does stop. We must be alert enough to notice such moments ... There are moments when time does stop. We must be alert enough to notice such moments ...
John Irving quotes: What woman wants to hear someone say what her husband is thinking? What guy is going to be happy hearing what's on his wife's mind? What woman wants to hear someone say what her husband is thinking? What guy is going to be happy hearing what's on his wife's mind?
John Irving quotes: Good habits are worth being fanatical about. Good habits are worth being fanatical about.
John Irving quotes: He smoked so much marijuana that his hair smelled like a cupboard crammed with oregano; He smoked so much marijuana that his hair smelled like a cupboard crammed with oregano;
John Irving quotes: Most dump kids are believers; maybe you have to believe in something when you see so many discarded things. Most dump kids are believers; maybe you have to believe in something when you see so many discarded things.
John Irving quotes: I get up early. I like to read a little before anyone but the dog is up. I also like to read at night, not in bed but just before I get up early. I like to read a little before anyone but the dog is up. I also like to read at night, not in bed but just before I go to bed.
John Irving quotes: Friends were more important than lovers - not least for the fact that friendships generally lasted longer than relationships. Friends were more important than lovers - not least for the fact that friendships generally lasted longer than relationships.
John Irving quotes: I always begin with a character or characters, and then try to think up as much action for them as possible. I always begin with a character or characters, and then try to think up as much action for them as possible.
John Irving quotes: Small towns may revile you, but they have to keep you-they can't turn you away. Small towns may revile you, but they have to keep you-they can't turn you away.
John Irving quotes: The excitement of anticipation was *almost* equal to the thrill of lovemaking ... The excitement of anticipation was *almost* equal to the thrill of lovemaking ...
John Irving quotes: A part of adolescence is feeling that there's no one else around who's enough like yourself to understand you. A part of adolescence is feeling that there's no one else around who's enough like yourself to understand you.
John Irving quotes: I saw an oxygen tank in the cluttered room - what had been Atkins's "study," as his son had explained, now converted for a deathwatch. I saw an oxygen tank in the cluttered room - what had been Atkins's "study," as his son had explained, now converted for a deathwatch.
John Irving quotes: JUST THINK OF THIS AS MY LITTLE GIFT TO YOU," says Owen Meany JUST THINK OF THIS AS MY LITTLE GIFT TO YOU," says Owen Meany
John Irving quotes: I'm not proselytizing my method. I don't believe that one writer should tell other writers how to write. I'm not proselytizing my method. I don't believe that one writer should tell other writers how to write.
John Irving quotes: Did having a dog make you less political? Did having a dog make you less political?
John Irving quotes: If Garp was going to play lacrosse, Jenny thought, where would he go? Not out, because it's dark; he'd lose the ball. If Garp was going to play lacrosse, Jenny thought, where would he go? Not out, because it's dark; he'd lose the ball.
John Irving quotes: No, it's never easier. The new book doesn't know the first four were ever written. No, it's never easier. The new book doesn't know the first four were ever written.
John Irving quotes: Whatever I write, no matter how gray or dark the subject matter, it's still going to be a comic novel. Whatever I write, no matter how gray or dark the subject matter, it's still going to be a comic novel.
John Irving quotes: Nothing moves at the Hotel New Hampshire! We're screwed down here-for life! Nothing moves at the Hotel New Hampshire! We're screwed down here-for life!
John Irving quotes: I shared my grandmother's distaste for the word rector - it sounded too much like rectum to be taken seriously. I shared my grandmother's distaste for the word rector - it sounded too much like rectum to be taken seriously.
John Irving quotes: A truly happy woman drives some men and almost every other woman absolutely crazy A truly happy woman drives some men and almost every other woman absolutely crazy
John Irving quotes: When Jack Burns needed to hold his mother's hand, his fingers could see in the dark. When Jack Burns needed to hold his mother's hand, his fingers could see in the dark.
John Irving quotes: To the dump kids, it also seemed perfectly logical that they were driven to the circus by a transvestite prostitute. To the dump kids, it also seemed perfectly logical that they were driven to the circus by a transvestite prostitute.
John Irving quotes: It was Wilbur Larch who was the first man in Maine to call a television what it was: an idiot box. It was Wilbur Larch who was the first man in Maine to call a television what it was: an idiot box.
John Irving quotes: ... there was no more safety to be found in love than there was to be found in a virus. ... there was no more safety to be found in love than there was to be found in a virus.
John Irving quotes: You live your life at the time you live it you don't have much of an overview when what's happening to you is still happening. You live your life at the time you live it
you don't have much of an overview when what's happening to you is still happening.
John Irving quotes: Not simple intolerance but the tolerance of intolerance, which allows the intolerance to persist. Not simple intolerance but the tolerance of intolerance, which allows the intolerance to persist.
John Irving quotes: No one could have fathomed what a life he'd led, for it was chiefly a life lived in his mind. No one could have fathomed what a life he'd led, for it was chiefly a life lived in his mind.
John Irving quotes: When I feel like being a director, I write a novel. When I feel like being a director, I write a novel.
John Irving quotes: Of course, everyone is intolerant of something or someone. Of course, everyone is intolerant of something or someone.
John Irving quotes: Juan Diego lived there, in the past - reliving, in his imagination, the losses that had marked him. Juan Diego lived there, in the past - reliving, in his imagination, the losses that had marked him.
John Irving quotes: It is hard work and great art to make life not so serious. It is hard work and great art to make life not so serious.
John Irving quotes: This is a writer's lesson: To learn that the sounds that we imagine can be the clearest, loudest sounds of all. This is a writer's lesson:
To learn that the sounds that we imagine can be the clearest, loudest sounds of all.
John Irving quotes: The object of war is to survive it. The object of war is to survive it.
John Irving quotes: He also knew that rivals are best unmanned by being ignored. He also knew that rivals are best unmanned by being ignored.
John Irving quotes: Garp didn't want a daughter because of men. Because of bad men, certainly; but even, he thought, because of men like me. Garp didn't want a daughter because of men. Because of bad men, certainly; but even, he thought, because of men like me.
John Irving quotes: DON'T GIVE IT ANOTHER THOUGHT," he said. "WE'RE PALS, AREN'T WE? WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR? I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU. DON'T GIVE IT ANOTHER THOUGHT," he said. "WE'RE PALS, AREN'T WE? WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR? I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU.
John Irving quotes: I realize that a writer's business is setting fire to Piggy Sneed-and trying to save him-again and again; forever. I realize that a writer's business is setting fire to Piggy Sneed-and trying to save him-again and again; forever.
John Irving quotes: the public entertainment of any period distinguishing the period as clearly as its so-called politics, the public entertainment of any period distinguishing the period as clearly as its so-called politics,
John Irving quotes: Real life is too sloppy a model for good fiction, Juan Diego had said. Real life is too sloppy a model for good fiction, Juan Diego had said.
John Irving quotes: In the sixties, dear Bill, we did not say 'top' and 'bottom' - we said 'pitcher' and 'catcher' ... In the sixties, dear Bill, we did not say 'top' and 'bottom' - we said 'pitcher' and 'catcher' ...
John Irving quotes: After twenty years in Canada, there are certain American lunatics who still fascinate me. After twenty years in Canada, there are certain American lunatics who still fascinate me.
John Irving quotes: I lived five years in the Midwest, and I loved it. The people were so nice. The people were so open. I lived five years in the Midwest, and I loved it. The people were so nice. The people were so open.
John Irving quotes: Garp was a natural storyteller; he could make things up, one right after the other, and they seemed to fit. But what did they mean? Garp was a natural storyteller; he could make things up, one right after the other, and they seemed to fit. But what did they mean?
John Irving quotes: My dear boy, " Miss Frost said sharply. "My dear boy, please don't put a label on me - don't make a category before you get to know me! My dear boy, " Miss Frost said sharply. "My dear boy, please don't put a label on me - don't make a category before you get to know me!
John Irving quotes: Someone who hasn't read a novel doesn't really know what it's about, William. Someone who hasn't read a novel doesn't really know what it's about, William.
John Irving quotes: Let the grave mound grow a little grass, I always say; then it's safe to look. Let the grave mound grow a little grass, I always say; then it's safe to look.
John Irving quotes: She was an expert at the art of sudden appearance. She was an expert at the art of sudden appearance.
John Irving quotes: I don't really set out to explore grand themes. I set out to tell a story. And one I have to be able to imagine right through. I don't really set out to explore grand themes. I set out to tell a story. And one I have to be able to imagine right through.
John Irving quotes: I find screenplays easy to write, my novels being very visual. You see what people look like. The physical action is described. I find screenplays easy to write, my novels being very visual. You see what people look like. The physical action is described.
John Irving quotes: May God watch over your soul, which no man may abuse. May God watch over your soul, which no man may abuse.
John Irving quotes: I've always preferred writing in longhand. I've always written first drafts in longhand. I've always preferred writing in longhand. I've always written first drafts in longhand.
John Irving quotes: We are formed by what we desire We are formed by what we desire
John Irving quotes: Sometimes, when we are labeled, when we are branded, our brand becomes our calling; Sometimes, when we are labeled, when we are branded, our brand becomes our calling;
John Irving quotes: Jenny Fields felt undone, the way only a person who has been careful can feel when confronted by a mistake. Jenny Fields felt undone, the way only a person who has been careful can feel when confronted by a mistake.
John Irving quotes: (You shouldn't guess about someone's past; if you don't see any evidence of it, a person's past remains unknown to you.) (You shouldn't guess about someone's past; if you don't see any evidence of it, a person's past remains unknown to you.)
John Irving quotes: The more clearly one sees this world; the more one is obliged to pretend it does not exist. The more clearly one sees this world; the more one is obliged to pretend it does not exist.
John Irving quotes: Am I not here, for I am your mother? Am I not here, for I am your mother?
John Irving quotes: A writer's job is to imagine everything so personally that the fiction is as vivid as memories. A writer's job is to imagine everything so personally that the fiction is as vivid as memories.
John Irving quotes: (Baseball) is a game with a lot of waiting in it; it is a game with increasingly heightened anticipation of increasingly limited action (Baseball) is a game with a lot of waiting in it; it is a game with increasingly heightened anticipation of increasingly limited action
John Irving quotes: I certainly think Obama is the most hopeful president I've seen in the country since John Kennedy. I certainly think Obama is the most hopeful president I've seen in the country since John Kennedy.
John Irving quotes: Just when you begin thinking of yourself as memorable, you run into someone who can't even remember having met you Just when you begin thinking of yourself as memorable, you run into someone who can't even remember having met you
John Irving quotes: I have learned that the consequences of our past actions are always interesting; I have learned to view the present with a forward-looking eye. I have learned that the consequences of our past actions are always interesting; I have learned to view the present with a forward-looking eye.
John Irving quotes: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.
John Irving quotes: LIBERACE!' Owen would have cried. 'WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT POSSIBLE? LIBERACE! KILLED BY WATERMELONS! LIBERACE!' Owen would have cried. 'WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT POSSIBLE? LIBERACE! KILLED BY WATERMELONS!
John Irving quotes: The main character and the most important character are not always the same person - you have to know the difference. The main character and the most important character are not always the same person - you have to know the difference.
John Irving quotes: One can learn much through the thin walls of summer houses. One can learn much through the thin walls of summer houses.
John Irving quotes: We will often do anything to pretend that nothing is on our minds. We will often do anything to pretend that nothing is on our minds.
John Irving quotes: David Copperfield. David Copperfield.
John Irving quotes: We've been an empire in decline since I can remember," Ketchum said bluntly; he wasn't kidding. "We are a lost nation, Danny. Stop farting around. We've been an empire in decline since I can remember," Ketchum said bluntly; he wasn't kidding. "We are a lost nation, Danny. Stop farting around.
John Irving quotes: It's rare when there's something we can do for ourselves which also pleases someone else. It's rare when there's something we can do for ourselves which also pleases someone else.
John Irving quotes: THE BRITISH NEVER WATCH BASEBALL! THE BRITISH NEVER WATCH BASEBALL!
John Irving quotes: DON'T GIVE ME THE SHIVERS,' Owen said. DON'T GIVE ME THE SHIVERS,' Owen said.
John Irving quotes: In a living city, I could never have noticed so much. Living cities don't hold still. In a living city, I could never have noticed so much. Living cities don't hold still.
John Irving quotes: Self-hatred is worse than loneliness. Self-hatred is worse than loneliness.
John Irving quotes: You'd better leave your chromosomes at the door. You'd better leave your chromosomes at the door.
John Irving quotes: ... there is no nakedness that compares to being naked in front of someone for the first time. ... there is no nakedness that compares to being naked in front of someone for the first time.
John Irving quotes: It was a deus-ex-machina world! It was a deus-ex-machina world!
John Irving quotes: But I often think that so-called glamorous people are just very busy people. But I often think that so-called glamorous people are just very busy people.
John Irving quotes: My old coach used to say that if you were in it for the match, if you were in it for the trophies, you were in it for the wrong My old coach used to say that if you were in it for the match, if you were in it for the trophies, you were in it for the wrong reasons.
John Irving quotes: Return trips, to this day ... are simply invitations to dull trances or leaden slumber, Return trips, to this day ... are simply invitations to dull trances or leaden slumber,
John Irving quotes: I never know when I finish the novel I am writing which will be the next novel out of the station. I never know when I finish the novel I am writing which will be the next novel out of the station.
John Irving quotes: He felt fortunate to be with Helen; she had her own ambitions and he could not manipulate here. He felt fortunate to be with Helen; she had her own ambitions and he could not manipulate here.
John Irving quotes: It seemed to Dr. Daruwalla that his story was the opposite of universal; his story was simply strange - the doctor himself was singularly foreign. It seemed to Dr. Daruwalla that his story was the opposite of universal; his story was simply strange - the doctor himself was singularly foreign.
John Irving quotes: Thus we try to keep our heroes alive; hence we remember them. Thus we try to keep our heroes alive; hence we remember them.
John Irving quotes: I later found a bookstore on the Calle de Gravina - Libros, I believe it was called. (I'm not kidding, a bookstore called "Books.") I later found a bookstore on the Calle de Gravina - Libros, I believe it was called. (I'm not kidding, a bookstore called "Books.")
John Irving quotes: Vargas isn't supposed to be faithful to a woman he hasn't slept with! Vargas only wants to sleep with Dr. Gomez, Lupe. Vargas isn't supposed to be faithful to a woman he hasn't slept with! Vargas only wants to sleep with Dr. Gomez, Lupe.
John Irving quotes: Not every collision course comes as a surprise. Not every collision course comes as a surprise.
John Irving quotes: By '95 - in New York, alone - more Americans had died of AIDS than were killed in Vietnam. By '95 - in New York, alone - more Americans had died of AIDS than were killed in Vietnam.
John Irving quotes: And never forget, there is memory. And never forget, there is memory.
John Irving quotes: I'm just a woman with a penis! she would say, her voice rising. I'm just a woman with a penis! she would say, her voice rising.
John Irving quotes: You'd better hope they're not checking chromosomes at the door. You'd better hope they're not checking chromosomes at the door.
John Irving quotes: He was too young to know that, in any novel with a reasonable amount of forethought, there were no coincidences. He was too young to know that, in any novel with a reasonable amount of forethought, there were no coincidences.

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