Lydia Davis quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Lydia Davis

Lydia Davis Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Lydia Davis on Wise Famous Quotes.

Lydia Davis quotes: I'm a fierce editor! I don't edit out things that I began by saying, usually. The editing is on the micro level - a comma here, a word there.

I'm a fierce editor! I don't edit out things that I began by saying, usually. The editing is on the micro level - a comma here, a word there.

Lydia Davis quotes: If they finally move, is it because they are warm enough, or is it that they are stiff, or bored?

If they finally move, is it because they are warm enough, or is it that they are stiff, or bored?

Lydia Davis quotes: If you think of something, do it.Plenty of people often think, I'd like to do this, or that.

If you think of something, do it.
Plenty of people often think, I'd like to do this, or that.

Lydia Davis quotes: Beyond the hand holding this book that I'm reading, I see another hand lying idle and slightly out of focus - my extra hand.

Beyond the hand holding this book that I'm reading, I see another hand lying idle and slightly out of focus - my extra hand.

Lydia Davis quotes: I don't feel I have to struggle against allegory. I let the readers do the interpreting.

I don't feel I have to struggle against allegory. I let the readers do the interpreting.

Lydia Davis quotes: I wrote the first draft of 'Madame Bovary' without studying the previous translations, although I gathered them and took the occasional peek.

I wrote the first draft of 'Madame Bovary' without studying the previous translations, although I gathered them and took the occasional peek.

Lydia Davis quotes: I am simply not interested, at this point, in creating narrative scenes between characters.

I am simply not interested, at this point, in creating narrative scenes between characters.

Lydia Davis quotes: The word "fine" is the greatest abbreviation and obviously wrong.

The word "fine" is the greatest abbreviation and obviously wrong.

Lydia Davis quotes: I see people sometimes who remind me of my narrators.

I see people sometimes who remind me of my narrators.

Lydia Davis quotes: Collections aren't really planned. I just keep writing short pieces until I have enough for a collection.

Collections aren't really planned. I just keep writing short pieces until I have enough for a collection.

Lydia Davis quotes: I find teaching - I like it, but I find just walking into the classroom and facing the students very difficult.

I find teaching - I like it, but I find just walking into the classroom and facing the students very difficult.

Lydia Davis quotes: I follow my interests pretty - I don't like the word 'intuitively.' I follow them in a kind of natural way, without questioning them too much.

I follow my interests pretty - I don't like the word 'intuitively.' I follow them in a kind of natural way, without questioning them too much.

Lydia Davis quotes: The old vacuum cleaner keeps dying on herover and overuntil at last the cleaning womanscares it by yelling:"Motherfucker!

The old vacuum cleaner keeps dying on her
over and over
until at last the cleaning woman
scares it by yelling:
"Motherfucker!

Lydia Davis quotes: Because I'm not writing all the time (thank goodness), my mind is sometimes pleasantly blank.

Because I'm not writing all the time (thank goodness), my mind is sometimes pleasantly blank.

Lydia Davis quotes: I do think novels are overlooked. I did write one some years ago that I think is quite good, called 'The End of the Story,' not to blow my own

I do think novels are overlooked. I did write one some years ago that I think is quite good, called 'The End of the Story,' not to blow my own horn.

Lydia Davis quotes: Not a man of habits, though he wished to be,

Not a man of habits, though he wished to be,

Lydia Davis quotes: They Take Turns Using a Word They Like "It's extraordinary," says one woman.

They Take Turns Using a Word They Like "It's extraordinary," says one woman.

Lydia Davis quotes: I first read 'Madame Bovary' in my teens or early twenties.

I first read 'Madame Bovary' in my teens or early twenties.

Lydia Davis quotes: I do see an interest in writing for Twitter.

I do see an interest in writing for Twitter.

Lydia Davis quotes: He says to us: They don't really do anything. Then he adds: But of course there is not a lot for them to do.

He says to us: They don't really do anything. Then he adds: But of course there is not a lot for them to do.

Lydia Davis quotes: The people in your happy memories have to be the same people who want to have you in their own happy memories.

The people in your happy memories have to be the same people who want to have you in their own happy memories.

Lydia Davis quotes: When I'm trying a new form- trying to do something I'm not used to doing, which was true of the novel.

When I'm trying a new form- trying to do something I'm not used to doing, which was true of the novel.

Lydia Davis quotes: So the question really is, Why doesn't that pain make you say, I won't do it again? When the pain is so bad that you have to say that, but

So the question really is, Why doesn't that pain make you say, I won't do it again? When the pain is so bad that you have to say that, but you don't.

Lydia Davis quotes: They do sometimes protest...At these times, she sounds authoritative. But she has no authority.

They do sometimes protest...At these times, she sounds authoritative. But she has no authority.

Lydia Davis quotes: My stories are sometimes closer to poems or meditations, but often there is at least a little narrative in them.

My stories are sometimes closer to poems or meditations, but often there is at least a little narrative in them.

Lydia Davis quotes: I think the close work I do as a translator pays off in my writing - I'm always searching for multiple ways to say things.

I think the close work I do as a translator pays off in my writing - I'm always searching for multiple ways to say things.

Lydia Davis quotes: I can talk for a long time only when it's about something boring.

I can talk for a long time only when it's about something boring.

Lydia Davis quotes: I don't like to hurt people's feelings, and I don't like to knock other writers as a matter of principle.

I don't like to hurt people's feelings, and I don't like to knock other writers as a matter of principle.

Lydia Davis quotes: I would recommend, definitely, developing a 'day job' that you like - don't expect to make money writing!

I would recommend, definitely, developing a 'day job' that you like - don't expect to make money writing!

Lydia Davis quotes: I'm used to rereading e-mails, even, before sending them - a bit compulsive. So this is high speed roller coaster for me!

I'm used to rereading e-mails, even, before sending them - a bit compulsive. So this is high speed roller coaster for me!

Lydia Davis quotes: Idea For A Short Documentary FilmRepresentatives of different food products manufacturers try to open their own packaging.

Idea For A Short Documentary Film
Representatives of different food products manufacturers try to open their own packaging.

Lydia Davis quotes: I am happy the leaves are growing large so quickly. Soon they will hide the neighbor and her screaming child.

I am happy the leaves are growing large so quickly. Soon they will hide the neighbor and her screaming child.

Lydia Davis quotes: For a moment it seemed incomprehensible to me that anyone would build a whole city when all that was needed was a room for her.

For a moment it seemed incomprehensible to me that anyone would build a whole city when all that was needed was a room for her.

Lydia Davis quotes: Samuel Johnson Is Indignant:that Scotland has so few trees.

Samuel Johnson Is Indignant:that Scotland has so few trees.

Lydia Davis quotes: She found it an interesting exercise to explore a place with a person she did not know well, following not only her own impulses but also his.

She found it an interesting exercise to explore a place with a person she did not know well, following not only her own impulses but also his.

Lydia Davis quotes: Art is not in some far-off place.

Art is not in some far-off place.

Lydia Davis quotes: I always interrupt work with other work, either in a small way or big way, so that's normal.

I always interrupt work with other work, either in a small way or big way, so that's normal.

Lydia Davis quotes: Like a tropical storm, I, too, may one day become 'better organized.

Like a tropical storm, I, too, may one day become 'better organized.

Lydia Davis quotes: Under all this dirt the floor is really very clean.

Under all this dirt the floor is really very clean.

Lydia Davis quotes: 105 years old: she wouldn't be alive today even if she hadn't died.

105 years old:
she wouldn't be alive today
even if she hadn't died.

Lydia Davis quotes: I never dream in French, but certain French words seem better or more fun than English words - like 'pois chiches' for chick peas!

I never dream in French, but certain French words seem better or more fun than English words - like 'pois chiches' for chick peas!

Lydia Davis quotes: A woman has written yet another story that is not interesting, though it has a hurricane in it, and a hurricane usually promises to be interesting.

A woman has written yet another story that is not interesting, though it has a hurricane in it, and a hurricane usually promises to be interesting.

Lydia Davis quotes: I've gotten very alert not just to mixed metaphor but to any writing mistake.

I've gotten very alert not just to mixed metaphor but to any writing mistake.

Lydia Davis quotes: She knows she is in Chicago. But she does not yet realize that she is in Illinois.

She knows she is in Chicago. But she does not yet realize that she is in Illinois.

Lydia Davis quotes: This was why she could not sleep. She could not say the day was over. She had no sense that any day was ever over.

This was why she could not sleep. She could not say the day was over. She had no sense that any day was ever over.

Lydia Davis quotes: Work hard and meticulously. When in trouble, look closely at a text that is a good example of what you're trying to do. And be patient.

Work hard and meticulously. When in trouble, look closely at a text that is a good example of what you're trying to do. And be patient.

Lydia Davis quotes: The Busy RoadI am so used to it by nowthat when the traffic falls silent,I think a storm is coming.

The Busy Road
I am so used to it by now
that when the traffic falls silent,
I think a storm is coming.

Lydia Davis quotes: Part of my mind is working on how to end the thing while I'm going on. You need at least two brains to write.

Part of my mind is working on how to end the thing while I'm going on. You need at least two brains to write.

Lydia Davis quotes: Why don't you like the foods I like?" he asks sometimes. "Why don't you like the foods I make?" I answer.

Why don't you like the foods I like?" he asks sometimes. "Why don't you like the foods I make?" I answer.

Lydia Davis quotes: I think a lot of what goes into writing can be taught - not mixing metaphors, etc.

I think a lot of what goes into writing can be taught - not mixing metaphors, etc.

Lydia Davis quotes: because she couldn't write the name of what she was: a wa wam owm owamn womn

because she couldn't write the name of what she was: a wa wam owm owamn womn

Lydia Davis quotes: But it is curious how you can see that an idea is absolutely true and correct and yet not believe it deeply enough to act on it.

But it is curious how you can see that an idea is absolutely true and correct and yet not believe it deeply enough to act on it.

Lydia Davis quotes: Of course we may have any number of translations of a given text - the more the better, really.

Of course we may have any number of translations of a given text - the more the better, really.

Lydia Davis quotes: Do what you want to do, and don't worry if it's a little odd or doesn't fit the market.

Do what you want to do, and don't worry if it's a little odd or doesn't fit the market.

Lydia Davis quotes: The snow on their faces is so white that how the white patches on their faces, which once looked so white against their black, are a shade of yellow.

The snow on their faces is so white that how the white patches on their faces, which once looked so white against their black, are a shade of yellow.