Michael Dirda quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Michael Dirda

Michael Dirda Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Michael Dirda on Wise Famous Quotes.

Michael Dirda quotes: I think the essence of [Kurt] Vonnegut's humanism lay in his emphasis on human kindness as, so to speak, our saving grace.

I think the essence of [Kurt] Vonnegut's humanism lay in his emphasis on human kindness as, so to speak, our saving grace.

Michael Dirda quotes: Science fiction is, after all, the art of extrapolation.

Science fiction is, after all, the art of extrapolation.

Michael Dirda quotes: Since I make my living as a literary journalist, not a book scout, I spend inordinate amounts of time either reading or writing.

Since I make my living as a literary journalist, not a book scout, I spend inordinate amounts of time either reading or writing.

Michael Dirda quotes: Order and surprise: these are two intertwined elements that make for any great library or collection.

Order and surprise: these are two intertwined elements that make for any great library or collection.

Michael Dirda quotes: We learn best by placing our 'confidence in men and women whose examples invite us to love what they love'(Robert Wilken).

We learn best by placing our 'confidence in men and women whose examples invite us to love what they love'(Robert Wilken).

Michael Dirda quotes: As with a love affair, the battered heart needs time to recover from a good work of fiction.

As with a love affair, the battered heart needs time to recover from a good work of fiction.

Michael Dirda quotes: At the age of 14, I ran away from home for four days and hitchhiked around western Pennsylvania and southern Ohio.

At the age of 14, I ran away from home for four days and hitchhiked around western Pennsylvania and southern Ohio.

Michael Dirda quotes: Writers keep writing and publishers publishing - it never grows boring.

Writers keep writing and publishers publishing - it never grows boring.

Michael Dirda quotes: Near my desk, I keep a large plastic carton filled with fresh notebooks and stationery of various kinds, sizes, and qualities.

Near my desk, I keep a large plastic carton filled with fresh notebooks and stationery of various kinds, sizes, and qualities.

Michael Dirda quotes: None of us, of course, will ever read all the books we'd like, but we can still make a stab at it.

None of us, of course, will ever read all the books we'd like, but we can still make a stab at it.

Michael Dirda quotes: Throughout history the exemplary teacher has never been just an instructor in a subject; he is nearly always its living advertisement.

Throughout history the exemplary teacher has never been just an instructor in a subject; he is nearly always its living advertisement.

Michael Dirda quotes: I once read that there are more biographical works about Napoleon Bonaparte than any other man in history.

I once read that there are more biographical works about Napoleon Bonaparte than any other man in history.

Michael Dirda quotes: As book collectors know all too well: We only regret our economies, never our extravagances.

As book collectors know all too well: We only regret our economies, never our extravagances.

Michael Dirda quotes: I've always liked an easygoing, colloquial style. I like the kind of reviewer who is essentially a fellow reader, an enthusiast, a fan.

I've always liked an easygoing, colloquial style. I like the kind of reviewer who is essentially a fellow reader, an enthusiast, a fan.

Michael Dirda quotes: The savagery and power of Edith Wharton's ghost stories surprised me.

The savagery and power of Edith Wharton's ghost stories surprised me.

Michael Dirda quotes: Mentoring is the last refuge of the older artist. With luck, disciples will keep one's books in print, one's reputation alive.

Mentoring is the last refuge of the older artist. With luck, disciples will keep one's books in print, one's reputation alive.

Michael Dirda quotes: I sometimes lie awake at night and try to imagine what would be the best period in history to spend one's seventy-odd years.

I sometimes lie awake at night and try to imagine what would be the best period in history to spend one's seventy-odd years.

Michael Dirda quotes: Books can be a source of solace, but I see them mainly as a source of pleasure, personal as well as esthetic.

Books can be a source of solace, but I see them mainly as a source of pleasure, personal as well as esthetic.

Michael Dirda quotes: I'm an appreciator. I love all kinds of books, and I want others to love them, too.

I'm an appreciator. I love all kinds of books, and I want others to love them, too.

Michael Dirda quotes: 'The Admirable Crichton' is probably Barrie's most famous work after 'Peter Pan', nearly a pendant to that classic.

'The Admirable Crichton' is probably Barrie's most famous work after 'Peter Pan', nearly a pendant to that classic.

Michael Dirda quotes: I am something of an aficionado of thrift stores. In my youth, I regularly searched their shelves for old books.

I am something of an aficionado of thrift stores. In my youth, I regularly searched their shelves for old books.

Michael Dirda quotes: Any man's death diminishes us, but when an artist passes away, we lose not just an island but an entire archipelago.

Any man's death diminishes us, but when an artist passes away, we lose not just an island but an entire archipelago.

Michael Dirda quotes: The world is a library of strange and wonderful books, and sometimes we just need to go prowling through the stacks.

The world is a library of strange and wonderful books, and sometimes we just need to go prowling through the stacks.

Michael Dirda quotes: My wife tells me I should check out 'Downton Abbey', but I gather that series might be almost too intense for my temperate nature.

My wife tells me I should check out 'Downton Abbey', but I gather that series might be almost too intense for my temperate nature.

Michael Dirda quotes: Best selling authors are always worth listening to, even if you choose to ignore their advice.

Best selling authors are always worth listening to, even if you choose to ignore their advice.

Michael Dirda quotes: I didn't work for any newspapers in college, never worked for any newspaper before 'The Washington Post'.

I didn't work for any newspapers in college, never worked for any newspaper before 'The Washington Post'.

Michael Dirda quotes: A good rule of thumb is: Pack twice as many books as changes of underwear.

A good rule of thumb is: Pack twice as many books as changes of underwear.

Michael Dirda quotes: In my own case, my folks didn't actually object to comics, as many parents did, but they pretty much felt the things were a waste of time.

In my own case, my folks didn't actually object to comics, as many parents did, but they pretty much felt the things were a waste of time.

Michael Dirda quotes: If you are given lined paper, write crosswise. At least occassionally.

If you are given lined paper, write crosswise. At least occassionally.

Michael Dirda quotes: With concerted effort, I can follow written instructions, but don't ask me to simply grasp how to operate a smartphone.

With concerted effort, I can follow written instructions, but don't ask me to simply grasp how to operate a smartphone.

Michael Dirda quotes: Once upon a time, I sat in my mother's lap as she turned the pages of Golden Books, and I gradually learned to read.

Once upon a time, I sat in my mother's lap as she turned the pages of Golden Books, and I gradually learned to read.

Michael Dirda quotes: For even the ordinary well-read person, the French Enlightenment is largely restricted to the three big-name philosophes: Diderot, Rousseau, Voltaire.

For even the ordinary well-read person, the French Enlightenment is largely restricted to the three big-name philosophes: Diderot, Rousseau, Voltaire.

Michael Dirda quotes: Like most people, I find watching the lazy and quiet underwater realm of a big aquarium exceptionally calming.

Like most people, I find watching the lazy and quiet underwater realm of a big aquarium exceptionally calming.

Michael Dirda quotes: . . the humanities encourage the development of our own humanity. They are our instruments of self-exploration.

. . the humanities encourage the development of our own humanity. They are our instruments of self-exploration.

Michael Dirda quotes: I think of my own work as part of a decades-long conversation about books and reading with people I will mainly never meet.

I think of my own work as part of a decades-long conversation about books and reading with people I will mainly never meet.

Michael Dirda quotes: What matters are those ordinary acts of kindness and of love, not vaulting ambition with its attendant hubris and smugness.

What matters are those ordinary acts of kindness and of love, not vaulting ambition with its attendant hubris and smugness.

Michael Dirda quotes: Most scholarly books we read for the information or insight they contain. But some we return to simply for the pleasure of the author's company.

Most scholarly books we read for the information or insight they contain. But some we return to simply for the pleasure of the author's company.

Michael Dirda quotes: I long ago ran out of bookshelf space and so, like a museum with its art, simply rotate my books from the boxes to the shelves and back again.

I long ago ran out of bookshelf space and so, like a museum with its art, simply rotate my books from the boxes to the shelves and back again.

Michael Dirda quotes: I'm sometimes willing to put in vast, even inordinate amounts of time if I find a project that interests me.

I'm sometimes willing to put in vast, even inordinate amounts of time if I find a project that interests me.

Michael Dirda quotes: Books don't only furnish a room: they also make the best holiday gifts.

Books don't only furnish a room: they also make the best holiday gifts.

Michael Dirda quotes: Make sure your message is clear, yet that you are faithful to its complexity.

Make sure your message is clear, yet that you are faithful to its complexity.

Michael Dirda quotes: Neither my mom nor my dad ever bought me any comic books. Certainly not for Christmas. I suspect that doing so would have violated the Parents' Code.

Neither my mom nor my dad ever bought me any comic books. Certainly not for Christmas. I suspect that doing so would have violated the Parents' Code.

Michael Dirda quotes: Some of us, alas, are destined to find our escapes in novels, not life.

Some of us, alas, are destined to find our escapes in novels, not life.

Michael Dirda quotes: Adventurous reading allows one to escape a little from the provincialities of one's home culture and the blinders of one's narrow self.

Adventurous reading allows one to escape a little from the provincialities of one's home culture and the blinders of one's narrow self.

Michael Dirda quotes: I suppose movie theaters are the churches of the modern age, where we gather reverently to worship the tinsel gods of Hollywood.

I suppose movie theaters are the churches of the modern age, where we gather reverently to worship the tinsel gods of Hollywood.

Michael Dirda quotes: I'm nothing if not a literary hedonist.

I'm nothing if not a literary hedonist.

Michael Dirda quotes: What I enjoy about reviewing and writing for newspapers and periodicals is simply the chance to talk about all kinds of books and lots of them.

What I enjoy about reviewing and writing for newspapers and periodicals is simply the chance to talk about all kinds of books and lots of them.

Michael Dirda quotes: Some travelers collect souvenirs, postcards, or bumper stickers; I bring home a pencil from the various places I visit.

Some travelers collect souvenirs, postcards, or bumper stickers; I bring home a pencil from the various places I visit.

Michael Dirda quotes: The goal of a just society should be to provide satisfying work with a living wage to all its citizens.

The goal of a just society should be to provide satisfying work with a living wage to all its citizens.

Michael Dirda quotes: From the late 19th to the early 20th century, the December issue of almost any general-interest magazine regularly featured a holiday horror or two.

From the late 19th to the early 20th century, the December issue of almost any general-interest magazine regularly featured a holiday horror or two.

Michael Dirda quotes: Fiction is a house with many stately mansions, but also one in which it is wise, at least sometimes, to swing from the chandeliers.

Fiction is a house with many stately mansions, but also one in which it is wise, at least sometimes, to swing from the chandeliers.

Michael Dirda quotes: I am shocked that we seemed to have learned nothing, absolutely nothing, from Vietnam.

I am shocked that we seemed to have learned nothing, absolutely nothing, from Vietnam.