36 Vikram Seth Quotes for You to Enjoy

Vikram Seth

Indian Novelist

Born: Jun 20, 1952

Me Music People Think Writing You

Related authors: Charles Dickens Ernest Hemingway Gustave Flaubert James Baldwin John Updike Leo Rosten Paulo Coelho Walter Scott

I need my natural laziness to be counteracted by obsession in order to do anything. Vikram Seth

Natural Laziness Obsession Order Anything Need

I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside. Vikram Seth

You Book Think Like Anyone Banned Aside Should Set

I think if something is worth doing, it's worth doing well. And worth thinking about it as well. Vikram Seth

Worth Think Thinking About Something Well Doing

I spent many years of my life as an economist and demographer. I was finally distracted by writing my novels and poetry. I'm enormously happy that was the case. I feel that with writing I have found my metier. Vikram Seth

Life Happy Writing My Life Finally Spent Distracted Case Poetry Feel Economist Years Many Novels Found

After 'A Suitable Boy,' I didn't write anything, not even a short story. I thought to myself: 'I ought to start writing.' But I can never force myself to write. Vikram Seth

Myself Writing Thought Suitable Ought Write Never Force Boy Short After Anything Short Story Story Even Start

I think goodness is about how person behaves to person, and also person to world, to nature. Vikram Seth

Nature World Goodness Think About Also How Person Behaves

Dear though the reader might be, I'd be silly to cater to what the reader wanted. Vikram Seth

Though Silly Cater Reader Dear Wanted Might

The trick to being a novelist is to act like an iceberg. Make it seem as if you're displaying only one-tenth of what you know, and the other nine-tenths isn't visible and never mind if that part is pure styrofoam! Vikram Seth

You Mind Pure Other Nine-Tenths Visible Trick Seem Only Never Part Like Know Make Being Iceberg Act Displaying Novelist

I am careful about fiction. A novel is not a tract or an essay. If I want to write about land reforms, or Hindu-Muslim relations, or position of women, I can do it as it affects my characters as in 'A Suitable Boy.' I could only write about issues specifically through essays. But I'll do that only if I have something worthwhile to say. Vikram Seth

Women Suitable Relations Say Characters Worthwhile About Something Only Could Through Write Tract Boy Am Issues Affects Reforms Essay Essays Want Fiction Land Novel Specifically Careful Position

I think it's possible to be multi-rooted, rather like a banyan tree, without being deracinated. Vikram Seth

Think Tree Possible Rather Like Without Being

In spite of all temptations of belonging to many nations, I've remained an Indian. Vikram Seth

Indian Temptations Remained Spite Nations Many Belonging

You have to learn a few things, which you do along the way, but basically, poetry is a matter of the ear. Iambic pentameters or what constitutes a stanza comes naturally - your ears will know. Vikram Seth

You Matter Will Few Ears Way Poetry Along Know Learn Few Things Which Your Naturally Things Ear Basically

I don't read as much as people may expect. In fact, sometimes I feel that I should probably read more, but then I do believe that one of the big problems of our times is that there's too much reading and not enough thinking. Vikram Seth

If you were to ask me to pick my favourite author, well, there are so many of them, I'd really just have to say the first names that came to mind, and I'm sure that I'll later think 'Oh, I should have mentioned that one.' Vikram Seth

I'm actually a very lazy person. Most of the time, I'm happy to sit around and stare. Or watch bad TV soaps. It's quite rare for me to get inspired by anything, but it could be something small. A view of the Serpentine. A snatch of music. Or a little shred of conversation overheard on a bus, such as, 'You also will marry someone of my choice.' Vikram Seth

Music Time Me You Conversation Happy Will Rare Sit TV Bad Marry Someone Something Small Could Inspired Lazy Most Also Around Overheard Very Person Get Quite Anything Soaps Little Bus Choice View Shred Stare Actually Watch

Of course, a law that is selectively used is in one aspect even worse than a law that is generally used because it puts a lot of power in individuals' hands and makes government a rule, not of laws, but of people. Vikram Seth

When I realised that I had feelings for men as well as women, at first I was worried and frightened, and there was a certain amount of 'Who am I? Am I a criminal?' and so on. It took me a long time to come to terms with myself. Those were painful years - painful then and painful to look back on. Vikram Seth

Time Myself Me Women Men Long Long Time First Feelings Took Back Criminal Worried Those Had Come Look Terms Well Am Were Years Frightened Realised Then Certain Painful Who Who Am I Amount

In general, questions are fine; you can always seize upon the parts of them that interest you and concentrate on answering those. And one has to remember when answering questions that asking questions isn't easy either, and for someone who's quite shy to stand up in an audience to speak takes some courage. Vikram Seth

You Courage Speak Remember Those Easy Fine Some Someone General Seize Remember When Takes Concentrate Parts Audience Always Answering Questions Up Quite Either Interest Them Asking Asking Questions Stand Stand Up Shy

I want my books to sell, to be read. I'm not interested in being obscure. Vikram Seth

Books Obscure Read Sell Being Want Not Interested Interested

I have a reputation for being hermitlike. I'm not. I'm just obsessed with my work. Vikram Seth

Work Reputation Obsessed Just Being

Vikram Seth Quotes

No more Vikram Seth quotes