Michael Ondaatje Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Michael Ondaatje

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Michael Ondaatje Famous Quotes & Sayings

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

Michael Ondaatje quotes: In the book the relationship with Katharine and Almasy is sort of only in the patient's mind. In the book the relationship with Katharine and Almasy is sort of only in the patient's mind.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I am not in love with him, I am in love with ghosts. So is he, he's in love with ghosts. I am not in love with him, I am in love with ghosts. So is he, he's in love with ghosts.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: What is interesting and important happens mostly in secret, in places where there is no power. What is interesting and important happens mostly in secret, in places where there is no power.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Love is so small it can tear itself through the eye of a needle Love is so small it can tear itself through the eye of a needle
Michael Ondaatje quotes: She had a laugh that hinted it had rolled around once or twice in the mud. She had a laugh that hinted it had rolled around once or twice in the mud.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Research can be a big clunker. It's difficult to know how you can make the historical light. Research can be a big clunker. It's difficult to know how you can make the historical light.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Fathers die.You keep on loving them in any way you can.You can't hide him away in your heart. Fathers die.You keep on loving them in any way you can.You can't hide him away in your heart.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: we live with those retrievals from childhood that coalesce and echo throughout our lives we live with those retrievals from childhood that coalesce and echo throughout our lives
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I was a man fifteen years older than she, you understand. I had reached that stage in life where I identified with cynical villains in a book. I was a man fifteen years older than she, you understand. I had reached that stage in life where I identified with cynical villains in a book.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Aliganaya - 'the embraceduring an intoxicated walk'or 'sudden arousalwhile driving over speed bumps Aliganaya - 'the embrace
during an intoxicated walk'
or 'sudden arousal
while driving over speed bumps
Michael Ondaatje quotes: There are no brunettes ... among Florentine Madonnas. There are no brunettes ... among Florentine Madonnas.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: As we left they told us the old joke. To start a journey in a sandstorm is good luck. As we left they told us the old joke. To start a journey in a sandstorm is good luck.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Do you understand the sadness of geography? Do you understand the sadness of geography?
Michael Ondaatje quotes: That's one of the great sadnesses of any life - knowing what you know now and then remembering what you did not know then. That's one of the great sadnesses of any life - knowing what you know now and then remembering what you did not know then.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I want to die on your chest but not yet she wrote sometime in the 13th century of our love I want to die on your chest but not yet she wrote sometime in the 13th century of our love
Michael Ondaatje quotes: A novel is a mirror walking down a road A novel is a mirror walking down a road
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I went mad before he did, you killed everything in me. Kiss me,will you. Stop defending yourself. I went mad before he did, you killed everything in me. Kiss me,will you. Stop defending yourself.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Sometimes we enter art to hide within it. It is where we can go to save ourselves, where a third-person voice protects us. Sometimes we enter art to hide within it. It is where we can go to save ourselves, where a third-person voice protects us.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: For when people leave our company in our time we are never certain of seeing them again, or seeing them unaltered. For when people leave our company in our time we are never certain of seeing them again, or seeing them unaltered.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: The rulers of the country generally believed that betting eliminates strikes. Men had to work in order to gamble. The rulers of the country generally believed that betting eliminates strikes. Men had to work in order to gamble.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: So many nurses had turned into emotionally disturbed handmaidens of the war, in their yellow-and-crimson uniforms with bone buttons. So many nurses had turned into emotionally disturbed handmaidens of the war, in their yellow-and-crimson uniforms with bone buttons.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: The right ending is an open door you can't see too far out of. It can mean exactly the opposite of what you are thinking. The right ending is an open door you can't see too far out of. It can mean exactly the opposite of what you are thinking.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: He has been disassembled by her. And if she has brought him to this, what has he brought her to? He has been disassembled by her. And if she has brought him to this, what has he brought her to?
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Men had always been the reciters of poetry in the desert. Men had always been the reciters of poetry in the desert.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: It's a responsibility of the writer to get the reader out of the story somehow. It's a responsibility of the writer to get the reader out of the story somehow.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: In the desert you celebrate nothing but water. In the desert you celebrate nothing but water.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Give me a map and I'll build you a city. Give me a map and I'll build you a city.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: His conversations lost some of their syllables out of shyness. His conversations lost some of their syllables out of shyness.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Every night I cut out my heart. But in the morning it was full again Every night I cut out my heart. But in the morning it was full again
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I thought I was being loved because I was being altered. I thought I was being loved because I was being altered.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Maybe this is the way to come out of a war, he thinks. A burned man to care for, some sheets to wash in a fountain, a room painted like Maybe this is the way to come out of a war, he thinks. A burned man to care for, some sheets to wash in a fountain, a room painted like a garden.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: The important thing is to be able to live in a place or a situation where you must use your sixth sense all the time. The important thing is to be able to live in a place or a situation where you must use your sixth sense all the time.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: They broke the way a man dismantling a mine broke the second his geography exploded. They broke the way a man dismantling a mine broke the second his geography exploded.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Every river they came to was bridge-less, as if its name had been erased, as if the sky were starless, homes doorless. Every river they came to was bridge-less, as if its name had been erased, as if the sky were starless, homes doorless.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Small talk plunged to its death around him. Small talk plunged to its death around him.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: -What do you hate most? he asks.-A lie. And you?-Ownership, he says. When you leave me, forget me. -What do you hate most? he asks.
-A lie. And you?
-Ownership, he says. When you leave me, forget me.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: As a writer, one is busy with archaeology. As a writer, one is busy with archaeology.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: We all have an old knot in the heart we wish to untie. We all have an old knot in the heart we wish to untie.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be seeing you. I'll be looking at the moon,
but I'll be seeing you.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I wanted to find one law to cover all of living. I found fear ... I wanted to find one law to cover all of living. I found fear ...
Michael Ondaatje quotes: The noise of the trees, the breaking of moon into silver fish bouncing off the leaves of asters outside. The noise of the trees, the breaking of moon into silver fish bouncing off the leaves of asters outside.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Record collection, with all those lifetimes and desires rhymed and distilled into two or three minutes of a song. Record collection, with all those lifetimes and desires rhymed and distilled into two or three minutes of a song.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: A blind lover, don't knowwhat I love till I write it out A blind lover, don't know
what I love till I write it out
Michael Ondaatje quotes: A well-told lie is worth a thousand facts A well-told lie is worth a thousand facts
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Secrets turn powerless in the open air. Secrets turn powerless in the open air.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: And that would be unconscionable, I suppose, to feel any obligation? Yes. Of course it would.Katherine clifftonThe English Patient And that would be unconscionable, I suppose, to feel any obligation? Yes. Of course it would.
Katherine cliffton
The English Patient
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Everyone has to scratch on walls somewhere or they go crazy Everyone has to scratch on walls somewhere or they go crazy
Michael Ondaatje quotes: The Englishman left months ago, Hana, he's with the Bedouin or in some English garden with its phlox and shit. The Englishman left months ago, Hana, he's with the Bedouin or in some English garden with its phlox and shit.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Reason was the only thing that might save them, and there was no reason. Reason was the only thing that might save them, and there was no reason.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: The war is not over everywhere, she was told. The war is over. This war is over. The war here. The war is not over everywhere, she was told. The war is over. This war is over. The war here.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: The deepest sorrow, he thought. Where the only way to survive is to excavate everything. The deepest sorrow, he thought. Where the only way to survive is to excavate everything.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: He will hear the rain before he feels it, a clicking on the dry grass, on the olive leaves. He will hear the rain before he feels it, a clicking on the dry grass, on the olive leaves.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: You don't want to write your own opinion, you don't want to just represent yourself, but represent yourself through someone else. You don't want to write your own opinion, you don't want to just represent yourself, but represent yourself through someone else.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: But here they were shedding skins. They could imitate nothing but what they were. There was no defence but to look for the truth in others. But here they were shedding skins. They could imitate nothing but what they were. There was no defence but to look for the truth in others.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Who realizes how contented feral children are? The grasp of the family fell away as soon as I was out the door. Who realizes how contented feral children are? The grasp of the family fell away as soon as I was out the door.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Before the real city could be seen it had to be imagined, the way rumours and tall tales were a kind of charting. Before the real city could be seen it had to be imagined, the way rumours and tall tales were a kind of charting.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Over the years, confusing fragments, lost corners of stories, have a clearer meaning when seen in a new light, a different place. Over the years, confusing fragments, lost corners of stories, have a clearer meaning when seen in a new light, a different place.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Jung was absolutely right about one thing. We are occupied by gods. The mistake is to identify with the god occupying you. Jung was absolutely right about one thing. We are occupied by gods. The mistake is to identify with the god occupying you.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I tend not to know what the plot is or the story is or even the theme. Those things come later, for me. I tend not to know what the plot is or the story is or even the theme. Those things come later, for me.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: In the desert the most loved waters, like a lover's name, are carried blue in your hands, enter your throat. One swallows absence. In the desert the most loved waters, like a lover's name, are carried blue in your hands, enter your throat. One swallows absence.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: It was easy to fool the three of us (tween boys), who were naked with innocence. It was easy to fool the three of us (tween boys), who were naked with innocence.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: This was the time in her life that she fell upon books as the only door out of her cell. They became half her world. This was the time in her life that she fell upon books as the only door out of her cell. They became half her world.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: You want to suggest something new, but at the same time, resolve the drama of the action in the novel. You want to suggest something new, but at the same time, resolve the drama of the action in the novel.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: He came to this country like a torch on fire and he swallowed air as he walked forward and he gave out light He came to this country like a torch on fire and he swallowed air as he walked forward and he gave out light
Michael Ondaatje quotes: When you're writing, it's as if you're within a kind of closed world. When you're writing, it's as if you're within a kind of closed world.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: There's a lot of thievery involved in writing. You're breaking into other people's spaces and other people's stories. There's a lot of thievery involved in writing. You're breaking into other people's spaces and other people's stories.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: From this point on, she whispered, we will either find or lose our souls. From this point on, she whispered, we will either find or lose our souls.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Truth, at the wrong time, can be dangerous. Truth, at the wrong time, can be dangerous.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: A writer uses a pen instead of a scalpel or blow torch. A writer uses a pen instead of a scalpel or blow torch.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: There was a time when mapmakers named the places they travelled through with the names of lovers rather than their own. There was a time when mapmakers named the places they travelled through with the names of lovers rather than their own.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: She had always wanted words, she loved them; grew up on them. Words gave her clarity, brought reason, shape. She had always wanted words, she loved them; grew up on them. Words gave her clarity, brought reason, shape.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: When I read biographies, I skip the first thirty pages about the childhood because it doesn't seem interesting to me. When I read biographies, I skip the first thirty pages about the childhood because it doesn't seem interesting to me.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: There's water in my bonesa ghost of a chance There's water in my bones
a ghost of a chance
Michael Ondaatje quotes: It's an odd state to be in, blowing the whistle on your home country. It's an odd state to be in, blowing the whistle on your home country.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: There is God only in the desert, he wanted to acknowledge that now. Outside of this there was just trade and power, money and war. There is God only in the desert, he wanted to acknowledge that now. Outside of this there was just trade and power, money and war.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: all this Beethoven and rain all this Beethoven and rain
Michael Ondaatje quotes: In Asian gardens you could look at rock and imagine water, you could gaze at a still pool and believe it had the hardness of rock. In Asian gardens you could look at rock and imagine water, you could gaze at a still pool and believe it had the hardness of rock.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Sadness is very close to hate. Sadness is very close to hate.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: A woman should never learn to sew, and is she can she shouldn't admit to it A woman should never learn to sew, and is she can she shouldn't admit to it
Michael Ondaatje quotes: What began it all was the bright bone of a dream I could hardly hold onto. What began it all was the bright bone of a dream I could hardly hold onto.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Blood a necklace on me all my life. Blood a necklace on me all my life.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: We own the country we grow up in, or we are aliens and invaders. We own the country we grow up in, or we are aliens and invaders.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Mockery had gone too far during Hearts. There had been an attempt at strangulation and then her ear had been perforated by a fork. Mockery had gone too far during Hearts. There had been an attempt at strangulation and then her ear had been perforated by a fork.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: How can you smile as though your whole life hasn't capsized How can you smile as though your whole life hasn't capsized
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Meanwhile with the help of an anecdote I fell in love. Words caravaggio. They have a power. Meanwhile with the help of an anecdote I fell in love. Words caravaggio. They have a power.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I don't have a plan for a story when I sit down to write. I would get quite bored carrying it out. I don't have a plan for a story when I sit down to write. I would get quite bored carrying it out.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Her hand touched me at the wrist. "If I gave you my life, you would drop it. Wouldn't you?"I didn't say anything. Her hand touched me at the wrist. "If I gave you my life, you would drop it. Wouldn't you?"
I didn't say anything.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I don't see novels ending with any real sense of closure. I don't see novels ending with any real sense of closure.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: I see myself as someone who's been saved by writing. God knows what I would have been, become or how I would have ended up without it. I see myself as someone who's been saved by writing. God knows what I would have been, become or how I would have ended up without it.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Nothing will kill you, my friend. You are pure carbon. Nothing will kill you, my friend. You are pure carbon.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: In darkness, in any light after dusk, you can slit a vein and the blood is black. In darkness, in any light after dusk, you can slit a vein and the blood is black.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: There's more danger in the violence you don't face. There's more danger in the violence you don't face.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: They had all grown older, but he still did not feel he had wisdom to go with his aging. They had all grown older, but he still did not feel he had wisdom to go with his aging.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Words are tricky things, a friend of his has told him, they're much more tricky than violins. Words are tricky things, a friend of his has told him, they're much more tricky than violins.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Most of the time in our world, truth is just opinion. Most of the time in our world, truth is just opinion.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: We have art,' Nietzsche said, 'so that we shall not be destroyed by the truth. We have art,' Nietzsche said, 'so that we shall not be destroyed by the truth.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: The trouble with all of us is we are where we shouldn't be. The trouble with all of us is we are where we shouldn't be.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: Githa Hariharan's fiction is wonderful-full of subtleties and humor and tenderness. Githa Hariharan's fiction is wonderful-full of subtleties and humor and tenderness.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: There always should be something hanging unfinished before a scene ends so that there's a reason for going to the next scene. There always should be something hanging unfinished before a scene ends so that there's a reason for going to the next scene.
Michael Ondaatje quotes: You're getting everyone's point of view at the same time, which, for me, is the perfect state for a novel: a cubist state, the cubist novel. You're getting everyone's point of view at the same time, which, for me, is the perfect state for a novel: a cubist state, the cubist novel.

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