9373 quotes by novelists for you to enjoy

Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either. Gore Vidal

Today Own Books Evidence Some Write Longer Read Either Public Them Public Figures Figures Speeches

Americans have no idea of the extent of their government's mischief... the number of military strikes we have made unprovoked, against other countries, since 1947 is more than 250. Gore Vidal

Government Made Military Other Other Countries Strikes Unprovoked No Idea More Mischief Idea Countries Since Than American Against Extent Number

Woman is a vulgar animal from whom man has created an excessively beautiful ideal. Gustave Flaubert

Beautiful Man Woman Animal Excess Ideal Vulgar Created Whom

The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest form of fascination. H. P. Lovecraft

Me Black Abyss Delving Form Process Fascination Keenest

Throw a stick, and the servile dog wheezes and pants and shambles to bring it to you. Do the same before a cat, and he will eye you with coolly polite and somewhat bored amusement. H. P. Lovecraft

You Dog Will Before Pants Eye Bored Somewhat Throw Cat He Stick Polite Same Bring Amusement

Denied anything ardently desired, the individual or state will argue and parley just so long - then, if the impelling motive be sufficiently great, will cast aside every rule and break down every acquired inhibition, plunging viciously after the object wished; all the more fantastically savage because of previous repression. H. P. Lovecraft

Savage Great Will Long Down Every State Rule Plunging Object More Ardently Cast Previous Individual Argue Wished Because Denied Motive Just Repression After Anything Break Acquired Aside Then Inhibition Sufficiently Desired

In theory I am an agnostic, but pending the appearance of rational evidence, I must be classed, practically and provisionally, as an atheist. H. P. Lovecraft

Atheist Evidence Must Rational Practically Am Theory Agnostic Appearance

The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience. Harper Lee

Rule One Thing Abide Majority Person The One Thing Conscience Thing

A smile is the chosen vehicle of all ambiguities. Herman Melville

Smile Vehicle Ambiguity Chosen

There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes his whole universe for a vast practical joke. Herman Melville

Life Man Strange Joke Universe Vast Takes Practical Call Occasions Affair Mixed Queer His Times Certain Whole

Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity. Hermann Hesse

History Humanity Writing Words Books Would Would-Be Could Concept Without

Eternity is a mere moment, just long enough for a joke. Hermann Hesse

Long Joke Enough Mere Just Eternity Moment

The truth is lived, not taught. Hermann Hesse

Truth Truth Is Taught Lived

I am happiest now. There's nothing like running out of time to make you realise you're in the right skin, with the right person, and that the Apocalypse will happen with or without you. Howard Jacobson

Things go bad after a divorce and often stay that way. It is rare for the parties to return placidly to a time before they met. A bitterness lingers on. Those who call this our Independence Day, fantasising of returning to a never-never time before they married, when they were free, easy, single, and master of their fate, are delusional. Howard Jacobson

Time Day Fate Independence Bitterness Rare Free Master Single Met Before Our Way Those Independence Day Married Bad Easy Stay Divorce Delusional Parties Call Return Returning Go Were Lingers Often After Who Things

People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we should not try to prevent people from murdering other people, since this has also been done since the earliest of times. Isaac Bashevis Singer

Quotes by Novelists