Julian Barnes Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Julian Barnes

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Julian Barnes Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Julian Barnes on Wise Famous Quotes.

Julian Barnes quotes: Cooking is the transformation of uncertainty (the recipe) into certainty (the dish) via fuss. Cooking is the transformation of uncertainty (the recipe) into certainty (the dish) via fuss.
Julian Barnes quotes: When you are writing fiction your task is to reflect the fullest complications of the world When you are writing fiction your task is to reflect the fullest complications of the world
Julian Barnes quotes: Religion decays, the icon remains; a narrative is forgotten, yet its representation still magnetizes. Religion decays, the icon remains; a narrative is forgotten, yet its representation still magnetizes.
Julian Barnes quotes: The writer must be universal in sympathy and an outcast by nature: only then can he see clearly. The writer must be universal in sympathy and an outcast by nature: only then can he see clearly.
Julian Barnes quotes: Did you leave me because of me?" "No," she said. "I left you because of us. Did you leave me because of me?" "No," she said. "I left you because of us.
Julian Barnes quotes: The conventional accept and are frequently charmed by a certain unconventionality. The conventional accept and are frequently charmed by a certain unconventionality.
Julian Barnes quotes: In Britain I'm sometimes regarded as a suspiciously Europeanized writer, who has this rather dubious French influence. In Britain I'm sometimes regarded as a suspiciously Europeanized writer, who has this rather dubious French influence.
Julian Barnes quotes: You only followed where you were going if you wanted to get back to where you had started from, and she knew that was impossible. You only followed where you were going if you wanted to get back to where you had started from, and she knew that was impossible.
Julian Barnes quotes: What is taken away is greater than the sum of what was there. This may not be mathematically possible; but it is emotionally possible. What is taken away is greater than the sum of what was there. This may not be mathematically possible; but it is emotionally possible.
Julian Barnes quotes: Theories were clean and convincing and comprehensible. Life was messy and full of nonsense. Theories were clean and convincing and comprehensible. Life was messy and full of nonsense.
Julian Barnes quotes: Everything is connected, even the parts we don't like, especially the parts we don't like. Everything is connected, even the parts we don't like, especially the parts we don't like.
Julian Barnes quotes: Wear flannel next to your skin, and never believe in eternal punishment. Wear flannel next to your skin, and never believe in eternal punishment.
Julian Barnes quotes: What happiness is there in just the memory of happiness? What happiness is there in just the memory of happiness?
Julian Barnes quotes: Old love is a row of beach huts in November. Old love is a row of beach huts in November.
Julian Barnes quotes: Irony - The modern mode: either the devil's mark or the snorkel of sanity. Irony - The modern mode: either the devil's mark or the snorkel of sanity.
Julian Barnes quotes: At best you have one of those debilitating conditions which come in many forms, and which some people decline to admit actually exist. At best you have one of those debilitating conditions which come in many forms, and which some people decline to admit actually exist.
Julian Barnes quotes: In Jewish folk music, despair is disguised as the dance. And so, truth's disguise was irony. In Jewish folk music, despair is disguised as the dance. And so, truth's disguise was irony.
Julian Barnes quotes: As I've explained to my wife many times, you have to kill your wife or mistress to get on the front page of the papers. As I've explained to my wife many times, you have to kill your wife or mistress to get on the front page of the papers.
Julian Barnes quotes: Some Englishman once said marriage is a long dull meak with pudding served first Some Englishman once said marriage is a long dull meak with pudding served first
Julian Barnes quotes: You can put it another way, of course; you always can. You can put it another way, of course; you always can.
Julian Barnes quotes: Every day is Sunday" - that wouldn't make a bad epitaph, would it? Every day is Sunday" - that wouldn't make a bad epitaph, would it?
Julian Barnes quotes: Integrity is like virginity: once lost, never recoverable Integrity is like virginity: once lost, never recoverable
Julian Barnes quotes: I am only a literary lizard basking the day away beneath the great sun of Beauty. That's all. I am only a literary lizard basking the day away beneath the great sun of Beauty. That's all.
Julian Barnes quotes: Why does the writing make us chase the writer? Why can't we leave well enough alone? Why aren't the books enough? Why does the writing make us chase the writer? Why can't we leave well enough alone? Why aren't the books enough?
Julian Barnes quotes: You must not be angry with me. You must think of me as an incomplete person. You must not be angry with me. You must think of me as an incomplete person.
Julian Barnes quotes: Gustave's last years are arid and solitary. He Gustave's last years are arid and solitary. He
Julian Barnes quotes: The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously. The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously.
Julian Barnes quotes: Adrian, however, pushed us to believe in the application of thought to life, in the notion Adrian, however, pushed us to believe in the application of thought to life, in the notion
Julian Barnes quotes: Though always frank, the novelist was never wholly sincere. Though always frank, the novelist was never wholly sincere.
Julian Barnes quotes: Life always refused simplicity. Life always refused simplicity.
Julian Barnes quotes: The notion of redefining the deity into something that works for you is grotesque. The notion of redefining the deity into something that works for you is grotesque.
Julian Barnes quotes: Life versus Death becomes, as Montaigne pointed out, Old Age versus Death. Life versus Death becomes, as Montaigne pointed out, Old Age versus Death.
Julian Barnes quotes: Life was the cat that dragged the parrot downstairs by its tail; his head banged against every step. Life was the cat that dragged the parrot downstairs by its tail; his head banged against every step.
Julian Barnes quotes: Had my life increased, or merely added to itself? There had been addition and subtraction in my life, but how much multiplication? Had my life increased, or merely added to itself? There had been addition and subtraction in my life, but how much multiplication?
Julian Barnes quotes: I am a worm in comparison with His Excellency. I am a worm.' 'Yes, that's just it, you are a worm indeed. I am a worm in comparison with His Excellency. I am a worm.' 'Yes, that's just it, you are a worm indeed.
Julian Barnes quotes: Insofar as I liked doing things by myself, it was partly for the pleasure of telling her about them afterwards. Insofar as I liked doing things by myself, it was partly for the pleasure of telling her about them afterwards.
Julian Barnes quotes: The complications of life do not end at the altar; some might say that this is where they begin. The complications of life do not end at the altar; some might say that this is where they begin.
Julian Barnes quotes: But if you're very clever, I think there's something that can unhinge you if you're not careful. But if you're very clever, I think there's something that can unhinge you if you're not careful.
Julian Barnes quotes: How submerged does a reference have to be before it drowns? How submerged does a reference have to be before it drowns?
Julian Barnes quotes: ...and who's to say what would have been for the best? You only found out afterwards, when it was too late. ...and who's to say what would have been for the best? You only found out afterwards, when it was too late.
Julian Barnes quotes: The best fiction rarely provides answers; but it does formulate the questions exceptionally well. The best fiction rarely provides answers; but it does formulate the questions exceptionally well.
Julian Barnes quotes: The past is something we can neither hold on to nor move entirely beyond. The past is something we can neither hold on to nor move entirely beyond.
Julian Barnes quotes: But if being on the level didn't shield you from pain, maybe it was better to be up in the clouds. But if being on the level didn't shield you from pain, maybe it was better to be up in the clouds.
Julian Barnes quotes: I hate the way the English have of not being serious about being serious, I really hate it. I hate the way the English have of not being serious about being serious, I really hate it.
Julian Barnes quotes: Love is just a system for getting someone to call you Darling after sex. Love is just a system for getting someone to call you Darling after sex.
Julian Barnes quotes: Ooks look as if they contain knowledge, while e-readers look as if they contain information. Ooks look as if they contain knowledge, while e-readers look as if they contain information.
Julian Barnes quotes: Honour is not just a matter of internal good feeling, but also of external behaviour. Honour is not just a matter of internal good feeling, but also of external behaviour.
Julian Barnes quotes: Next to not living with those one loves, the worst torture is living with those one doesn't love. Next to not living with those one loves, the worst torture is living with those one doesn't love.
Julian Barnes quotes: Well, they each seem to do one thing well enough, but fail to realize that literature depends on doing several things well at the same time. Well, they each seem to do one thing well enough, but fail to realize that literature depends on doing several things well at the same time.
Julian Barnes quotes: lethargic meliorist; lethargic meliorist;
Julian Barnes quotes: Books are not life, however much we may wish they were Books are not life, however much we may wish they were
Julian Barnes quotes: The way, the truth and the life. You go on your way through life telling the truth. The way, the truth and the life. You go on your way through life telling the truth.
Julian Barnes quotes: I suppose the truth is that, yes, I'm not odd enough not to have done the things I've ended up doing with my life. I suppose the truth is that, yes, I'm not odd enough not to have done the things I've ended up doing with my life.
Julian Barnes quotes: This ought to have given him a whole storetank of existential rage, but somehow it didn't; This ought to have given him a whole storetank of existential rage, but somehow it didn't;
Julian Barnes quotes: For all a lifetime's internal struggling, you were finally no more than what others saw you as. For all a lifetime's internal struggling, you were finally no more than what others saw you as.
Julian Barnes quotes: I don't believe in God, but I miss him. I don't believe in God, but I miss him.
Julian Barnes quotes: It was perfectly possible to be an artist, yet also to be robust and responsible. It was perfectly possible to be an artist, yet also to be robust and responsible.
Julian Barnes quotes: It is all just the universe doing its stuff, and we are the stuff it is being done to. It is all just the universe doing its stuff, and we are the stuff it is being done to.
Julian Barnes quotes: There will always be non-readers, bad readers, lazy readers - there always were. There will always be non-readers, bad readers, lazy readers - there always were.
Julian Barnes quotes: You lose the world for a glance? Of course you do. That is what the world is for: to lose under the right circunstances. You lose the world for a glance? Of course you do. That is what the world is for: to lose under the right circunstances.
Julian Barnes quotes: If a man cannot tell what he wants to do, then he must find out what he ought to do. If desire has become complicated, then hold fast to duty. If a man cannot tell what he wants to do, then he must find out what he ought to do. If desire has become complicated, then hold fast to duty.
Julian Barnes quotes: I don't ever want to get old. Spare me that. Have you the power? No, even you don't have the power, alas. I don't ever want to get old. Spare me that. Have you the power? No, even you don't have the power, alas.
Julian Barnes quotes: Perhaps love is essential because it's unnecessary. Perhaps love is essential because it's unnecessary.
Julian Barnes quotes: This [...] isn't something I actually saw, but what you end up remembering isn't always the same as what you witnessed. This [...] isn't something I actually saw, but what you end up remembering isn't always the same as what you witnessed.
Julian Barnes quotes: Those in the middle got killed; governments and terrorists survived. At Those in the middle got killed; governments and terrorists survived. At
Julian Barnes quotes: Fearless to the strong; humble to the weak, Fearless to the strong; humble to the weak,
Julian Barnes quotes: All true definitions of art are circular, and all untrue definitions of art ascribe to it a specific function. A All true definitions of art are circular, and all untrue definitions of art ascribe to it a specific function. A
Julian Barnes quotes: Sarcasm is irony which has lost its soul Sarcasm is irony which has lost its soul
Julian Barnes quotes: Poets don't run out of material the way novelists do because they don't depend on material in the same way. Poets don't run out of material the way novelists do because they don't depend on material in the same way.
Julian Barnes quotes: No sooner do we come into this world, than bits of us start to fall off. No sooner do we come into this world, than bits of us start to fall off.
Julian Barnes quotes: Start with the notion that yours is the sole responsibility unless there's powerful evidence to the contrary Start with the notion that yours is the sole responsibility unless there's powerful evidence to the contrary
Julian Barnes quotes: In truth, he was just another man, behaving as men did in books, and she was just another woman for believing otherwise. In truth, he was just another man, behaving as men did in books, and she was just another woman for believing otherwise.
Julian Barnes quotes: One of the troubles is this: the heart isn't heart-shaped. One of the troubles is this: the heart isn't heart-shaped.
Julian Barnes quotes: At times, I suspect that the concept of maturity is maintained by a conspiracy of niceness. At times, I suspect that the concept of maturity is maintained by a conspiracy of niceness.
Julian Barnes quotes: He had entered some state of grace - but one that did not exclude. He made you feel you were his co-thinker, even if you said nothing. He had entered some state of grace - but one that did not exclude. He made you feel you were his co-thinker, even if you said nothing.
Julian Barnes quotes: An element of propaganda, of sales and marketing, always intervened between the inner and the outer person. An element of propaganda, of sales and marketing, always intervened between the inner and the outer person.
Julian Barnes quotes: But you find yourself repeating, "They grow up so quickly, don't they?" when all you really mean is: time goes faster for me nowadays. But you find yourself repeating, "They grow up so quickly, don't they?" when all you really mean is: time goes faster for me nowadays.
Julian Barnes quotes: If the writer were more like a reader, he'd be a reader, not a writer. It's as uncomplicated as that. If the writer were more like a reader, he'd be a reader, not a writer. It's as uncomplicated as that.
Julian Barnes quotes: To look at ourselves from afar, to make the subjective suddenly objective: this gives us a psychic shock. To look at ourselves from afar, to make the subjective suddenly objective: this gives us a psychic shock.
Julian Barnes quotes: Poetry's packaged as a late-night slot, a quote minority taste unquote, like water-skiing or goat-fucking or something. Poetry's packaged as a late-night slot, a quote minority taste unquote, like water-skiing or goat-fucking or something.
Julian Barnes quotes: Throw off your grief,' doubters imply, 'and we can all go back to pretending death doesn't exist, or at least is comfortably far away. Throw off your grief,' doubters imply, 'and we can all go back to pretending death doesn't exist, or at least is comfortably far away.
Julian Barnes quotes: To be Russian was to be pessimistic; to be Soviet was to be optimistic. To be Russian was to be pessimistic; to be Soviet was to be optimistic.
Julian Barnes quotes: I'm a complete democrat in terms of who buys my books. I'm a complete democrat in terms of who buys my books.
Julian Barnes quotes: History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation. History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation.
Julian Barnes quotes: She knew me better than anyone else in the world. And still wanted to have lunch with me. And let me go on and on about myself. She knew me better than anyone else in the world. And still wanted to have lunch with me. And let me go on and on about myself.
Julian Barnes quotes: Khrennikov had an average ear for music, but perfect pitch when it came to power. Khrennikov had an average ear for music, but perfect pitch when it came to power.
Julian Barnes quotes: And since the griefstruck rarely know what they need or want, only what they don't, offence-giving and offence-taking are common. And since the griefstruck rarely know what they need or want, only what they don't, offence-giving and offence-taking are common.
Julian Barnes quotes: The more so because, among its repetitions, it is always looking for new ways to prick you. The more so because, among its repetitions, it is always looking for new ways to prick you.
Julian Barnes quotes: History isn't what happened, history is just what historians tell us. History isn't what happened, history is just what historians tell us.
Julian Barnes quotes: ( ... ) juries should ask not "Is he guilty?" but rather "Is he dangerous? ( ... ) juries should ask not "Is he guilty?" but rather "Is he dangerous?
Julian Barnes quotes: Medicine then must have been such an exciting, desperate, violent business; nowadays it is all pills and bureaucracy. Medicine then must have been such an exciting, desperate, violent business; nowadays it is all pills and bureaucracy.
Julian Barnes quotes: Why does anything left-wing have to be trendy before it's read, and by the time it's trendy it's already a force for conservatism? Why does anything left-wing have to be trendy before it's read, and by the time it's trendy it's already a force for conservatism?
Julian Barnes quotes: Who was it said that the longer we live, the less we understand? Who was it said that the longer we live, the less we understand?
Julian Barnes quotes: There's always talk. It's the same price as rain. There's always talk. It's the same price as rain.
Julian Barnes quotes: The more you learn, the less you fear. The more you learn, the less you fear.
Julian Barnes quotes: Freedom consists of conforming to the will of the majority. Freedom consists of conforming to the will of the majority.
Julian Barnes quotes: To own a certain book - and to choose it without help - is to define yourself. To own a certain book - and to choose it without help - is to define yourself.
Julian Barnes quotes: But cockteasing is also a metaphor: she is someone who will manipulate your inner self while holding hers back from you. But cockteasing is also a metaphor: she is someone who will manipulate your inner self while holding hers back from you.
Julian Barnes quotes: Every love story is a potential grief story. Every love story is a potential grief story.
Julian Barnes quotes: History is not just the lies of the victors; it is also the self-delusions of the defeated. History is not just the lies of the victors; it is also the self-delusions of the defeated.

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