V.S. Naipaul Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by V.S. Naipaul

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V.S. Naipaul Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from V.S. Naipaul on Wise Famous Quotes.

V.S. Naipaul quotes: It is wrong to have an ideal view of the world. That's where the mischief starts. That's where everything starts unravelling ... It is wrong to have an ideal view of the world. That's where the mischief starts. That's where everything starts unravelling ...
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Great writing can be done in biography, history, art. Great writing can be done in biography, history, art.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: She had a great many opinions , but taken together they did not add up to a point of view . She had a great many opinions , but taken together they did not add up to a point of view .
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I profoundly feel that people are letting you down all the time. I profoundly feel that people are letting you down all the time.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Some lesser husbands built a latrine on the hillside. Some lesser husbands built a latrine on the hillside.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: We exchanged greetings, and in the African way we could make that take time. We exchanged greetings, and in the African way we could make that take time.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Home is, I suppose just a child's idea. A house at night, and a lamp in the house. A place to feel safe. Home is, I suppose just a child's idea. A house at night, and a lamp in the house. A place to feel safe.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I could meet dreadful people and end up seeing the world through their eyes, seeing their frailties, their needs. I could meet dreadful people and end up seeing the world through their eyes, seeing their frailties, their needs.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: One always writes comedy at the moment of deepest hysteria. One always writes comedy at the moment of deepest hysteria.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: If ever you wish to meet intellectual frauds in quantity, go to Paris. If ever you wish to meet intellectual frauds in quantity, go to Paris.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I still think it's really quite wonderful when I read a sentence of mine and it has that quality of lastingness. I still think it's really quite wonderful when I read a sentence of mine and it has that quality of lastingness.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: At school I had only admirers; I had no friends. At school I had only admirers; I had no friends.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: After all, we make ourselves according to the ideas we have of our possibilities. After all, we make ourselves according to the ideas we have of our possibilities.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I have always moved by intuition alone. I have no system, literary or political. I have no guiding political idea. I have always moved by intuition alone. I have no system, literary or political. I have no guiding political idea.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: And it was strange, I thought, that sorrow lasts and can make a man look forward to death, but the mood of victory fills a moment and then is over And it was strange, I thought, that sorrow lasts and can make a man look forward to death, but the mood of victory fills a moment and then is over
V.S. Naipaul quotes: One isn't born one's self. One is born with a mass of expectations, a mass of other people's ideas - and you have to work through it all. One isn't born one's self. One is born with a mass of expectations, a mass of other people's ideas - and you have to work through it all.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: A celestial camera recorded my every movement, impartially, without judgement or pity. I was marked; I was of interest; I would survive. A celestial camera recorded my every movement, impartially, without judgement or pity. I was marked; I was of interest; I would survive.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I have a very small public. I have a very small public.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: My grief is that the publishing world, the book writing world is an extraordinary shoddy, dirty, dingy world. My grief is that the publishing world, the book writing world is an extraordinary shoddy, dirty, dingy world.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Anybody can be decisive during a panic; it takes a strong man to act during a boom. Anybody can be decisive during a panic; it takes a strong man to act during a boom.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: That element of surprise is what I look for when I am writing. It is my way of judging what I am doing - which is never an easy thing That element of surprise is what I look for when I am writing. It is my way of judging what I am doing - which is never an easy thing to do.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I know my father and my mother, but beyond that I cannot go. My ancestry is blurred. I know my father and my mother, but beyond that I cannot go. My ancestry is blurred.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Ignorant people in preppy clothes are more dangerous to America than oil embargoes. Ignorant people in preppy clothes are more dangerous to America than oil embargoes.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I will say I am the sum of my books. I will say I am the sum of my books.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: But this is madness. I am going in the wrong direction. There can't be a new life at the end of this. But this is madness. I am going in the wrong direction. There can't be a new life at the end of this.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The ancillary aspect of every British city now is the council estate. The ancillary aspect of every British city now is the council estate.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: He spoke about Africa in an unusual way. He spoke of Africa as though Africa was a sick child and he was the parent. He spoke about Africa in an unusual way. He spoke of Africa as though Africa was a sick child and he was the parent.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: That was the best time. The last day, the day of leaving. It was a good journey. It became different at the other end. That was the best time. The last day, the day of leaving. It was a good journey. It became different at the other end.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Out of every kind of nervousness I didn't move. Out of every kind of nervousness I didn't move.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I don't feel I can speak with authority for many other people. I don't feel I can speak with authority for many other people.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I'm my own writer. My material means I'm entirely separate. I'm my own writer. My material means I'm entirely separate.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I'm very content. I'm very content.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Nothing was made in Trinidad. Nothing was made in Trinidad.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Life is a helluva thing. You can see trouble coming and you can't do a damn thing to prevent it coming. You just got to sit and watch and wait. Life is a helluva thing. You can see trouble coming and you can't do a damn thing to prevent it coming. You just got to sit and watch and wait.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: We cannot understand all the traits we have inherited. Sometimes we can be strangers to ourselves. We cannot understand all the traits we have inherited. Sometimes we can be strangers to ourselves.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: It is important not to trust people too much. It is important not to trust people too much.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: It was in that garage that Alec worked, no longer wearing red bodices or peeing blue, but doing mysterious greasy things. It was in that garage that Alec worked, no longer wearing red bodices or peeing blue, but doing mysterious greasy things.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Attributed the decay of Hindu society in Trinidad to the rise of the timorous, weak, non-beating class of husband. Attributed the decay of Hindu society in Trinidad to the rise of the timorous, weak, non-beating class of husband.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: That life was full of rules. Too many rules; it was a prepacked kind of life. That life was full of rules. Too many rules; it was a prepacked kind of life.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: An autobiography can distort; facts can be realigned. But fiction never lies: it reveals the writer totally. An autobiography can distort; facts can be realigned. But fiction never lies: it reveals the writer totally.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: More than England to the British West Indian or even Holland to the Surinamer, France is the mother country to the Martiniquan. More than England to the British West Indian or even Holland to the Surinamer, France is the mother country to the Martiniquan.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Found, to his surprise, that he had put an end to their threats. Found, to his surprise, that he had put an end to their threats.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: In a way my reputation has become that of the curmudgeon. In a way my reputation has become that of the curmudgeon.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Neither my father nor grandfather could put dates to their stories. Not because they had forgotten or were confused; the past was simply the past. Neither my father nor grandfather could put dates to their stories. Not because they had forgotten or were confused; the past was simply the past.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: If a writer doesn't generate hostility, he is dead. If a writer doesn't generate hostility, he is dead.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I always knew who I was and where I had come from. I was not looking for a home in other people's lands. I always knew who I was and where I had come from. I was not looking for a home in other people's lands.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: One must always try to see the truth of a situation - it makes things universal. One must always try to see the truth of a situation - it makes things universal.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The world is always in movement. The world is always in movement.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: If a writer knows everything that is going to happen, then his book is dead before he begins it. If a writer knows everything that is going to happen, then his book is dead before he begins it.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: If writers just sit and talk about oppression, they are not going to do much writing. If writers just sit and talk about oppression, they are not going to do much writing.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: And so my satisfactions had only been brothel satisfactions, which hadn't been satisfactions at all. And so my satisfactions had only been brothel satisfactions, which hadn't been satisfactions at all.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Africans need to be kicked, that's the only thing they understand. Africans need to be kicked, that's the only thing they understand.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The President's white men, the promise of order and continuity; and it was oddly comforting, like the sound of rain in the night. The President's white men, the promise of order and continuity; and it was oddly comforting, like the sound of rain in the night.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I've been a free man. I've been a free man.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Writing has to support itself. Writing has to support itself.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Whenever I have had to write fiction, I've always had to invent a character who roughly has my background. Whenever I have had to write fiction, I've always had to invent a character who roughly has my background.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The tragedy of power like mine is that there is no way down. There can only be extinction. Dust to dust; rags to rags; fear to fear. The tragedy of power like mine is that there is no way down. There can only be extinction. Dust to dust; rags to rags; fear to fear.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: [In]the too solid three-dimensional city, I could never feel myself as anything but spectral, disintegrating, pointless, fluid. [In]the too solid three-dimensional city, I could never feel myself as anything but spectral, disintegrating, pointless, fluid.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Everywhere else men are in movement, the world is in movement, and the past can only cause pain. Everywhere else men are in movement, the world is in movement, and the past can only cause pain.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: But the people I found, the people I was attracted to were not unlike myself. They were trying to find order in their world, looking for the centre.. But the people I found, the people I was attracted to were not unlike myself. They were trying to find order in their world, looking for the centre..
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The melancholy thing about the world is that it is full of stupid people; and the world is run for the benefit of the stupid and common. The melancholy thing about the world is that it is full of stupid people; and the world is run for the benefit of the stupid and common.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I've never abandoned the novel. I've never abandoned the novel.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: A complying memory has obliterated many of them and edited my childhood down to a brief cinematic blur. A complying memory has obliterated many of them and edited my childhood down to a brief cinematic blur.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I grew up in a small place and left it when I was quite young and entered the bigger world. I grew up in a small place and left it when I was quite young and entered the bigger world.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: to be among the ruins was to have your time-sense unsettled. to be among the ruins was to have your time-sense unsettled.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Trinidad may seem complex, but to anyone who knows it, it is a simple, colonial, philistine society. Trinidad may seem complex, but to anyone who knows it, it is a simple, colonial, philistine society.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: My life is short. I can't listen to banality. My life is short. I can't listen to banality.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: My publisher, who was so good as a taster and editor, when she became a writer, lo and behold, it was all this feminine tosh. My publisher, who was so good as a taster and editor, when she became a writer, lo and behold, it was all this feminine tosh.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: If you write a novel alone you sit and you weave a little narrative. And it's O.K., but it's of no account. If you write a novel alone you sit and you weave a little narrative. And it's O.K., but it's of no account.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: What was past was past. I suppose that was the general attitude. What was past was past. I suppose that was the general attitude.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The world outside existed in a kind of darkness; and we inquired about nothing. The world outside existed in a kind of darkness; and we inquired about nothing.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Well, India is a country of nonsense. M. K. Gandhi Well, India is a country of nonsense. M. K. Gandhi
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Without always knowing what we were doing we were constantly adjusting to the arbitrariness by which we were surrounded. Without always knowing what we were doing we were constantly adjusting to the arbitrariness by which we were surrounded.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Doing many more things until it seemed that ritual had replaced grief. Doing many more things until it seemed that ritual had replaced grief.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The biography of a writer - or even the autobiography - will always have this incompleteness. The biography of a writer - or even the autobiography - will always have this incompleteness.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: When I learnt to write I became my own master, I became very strong, and that strength is with me to this very day. When I learnt to write I became my own master, I became very strong, and that strength is with me to this very day.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Small things can start us off in new ways of thinking, and I was started off by the postage stamps of our area. Small things can start us off in new ways of thinking, and I was started off by the postage stamps of our area.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Government that breaks its own laws can also easily break you. Government that breaks its own laws can also easily break you.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Non-fiction can distort; facts can be realigned. But fiction never lies. Non-fiction can distort; facts can be realigned. But fiction never lies.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Like many isolated people, they were wrapped up in themselves and not too interested in the world outside. Like many isolated people, they were wrapped up in themselves and not too interested in the world outside.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The writer is all alone. The writer is all alone.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Writers should provoke disagreement. Writers should provoke disagreement.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: A cat only has itself. A cat only has itself.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Certain emotions bridge the years and link unlikely places. Certain emotions bridge the years and link unlikely places.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: The past has to be seen to be dead; or the past will kill. The past has to be seen to be dead; or the past will kill.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: It was a light which gave solidity to everything and drew colour out from the heart of objects. It was a light which gave solidity to everything and drew colour out from the heart of objects.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: We had become what the world outside had made us; we had to live in the world as it existed. We had become what the world outside had made us; we had to live in the world as it existed.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Where jargon turns living issues into abstractions, and where jargon ends by competing with jargon, people don't have causes. They only have enemies. Where jargon turns living issues into abstractions, and where jargon ends by competing with jargon, people don't have causes. They only have enemies.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I felt his pain as an extra pressure on myself. I mentally added his pain to mine, made it part of my own. I felt his pain as an extra pressure on myself. I mentally added his pain to mine, made it part of my own.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Paradise seemed further away than India, but Hell had become a bit closer Paradise seemed further away than India, but Hell had become a bit closer
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Africa has no future. Africa has no future.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: You would say that he felt that money had made him holy. You would say that he felt that money had made him holy.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I had no student friends to talk to about literature. My tutor was a really nice man, very charming - but he had no literary judgment. I had no student friends to talk to about literature. My tutor was a really nice man, very charming - but he had no literary judgment.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: How ridiculous were the attentions the weak paid one another in the shadow of the strong! How ridiculous were the attentions the weak paid one another in the shadow of the strong!
V.S. Naipaul quotes: If it was Europe that gave us on the coast some idea of our history, it was Europe, I feel, that also introduced us to the lie. If it was Europe that gave us on the coast some idea of our history, it was Europe, I feel, that also introduced us to the lie.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: I'm thought to be a tough writer, but I'm really a softie. I'm thought to be a tough writer, but I'm really a softie.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: All cultures have been mingled forever. All cultures have been mingled forever.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: Me black and beautiful' was the first thing she taught me. Then she pointed to the policeman with the gun outside and taught me: 'He pig. Me black and beautiful' was the first thing she taught me. Then she pointed to the policeman with the gun outside and taught me: 'He pig.
V.S. Naipaul quotes: You can't deny what you've learned; you can't deny your travels; you can't deny the nature of your life. You can't deny what you've learned; you can't deny your travels; you can't deny the nature of your life.

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