John Banville Quotes
Every novelist knows – perhaps everyone knows who has written even a letter, or a page of a diary – that the process of composition involves two separate sensibilities.

Quotes to Explore
-
I was always very determined and ambitious, and I knew I would do something that would let me travel and stuff, but I didn't know really know what I would do to get there.
-
On the other hand, all kinds of adventurous schemes to add security checkpoints to subway and bus systems have been circulating since the London attacks. This is nonsense. No one can guaranty 100 percent security.
-
In law school, I earned the respect of professors and served on the editorial board of 'The Yale Law Journal.'
-
I would take plays and I would cut out all the other dialogue and make long monologues because I felt the other kids weren't taking it as seriously as I did.
-
In Hollywood, you play a mom and instantly, you've got osteoporosis.
-
I have dangerous bones in my body.
-
I came from somewhat of a musical family. I had an uncle on Broadway. My dad kind of knows how to play instruments. Although, I always find it annoying when he does play an instrument.
-
If you were to come to the set of Alias, you'd know how silly we all are. And I mean, silly.
-
A movie set actually can be a good place to have a family atmosphere.
-
Each album takes two or two-and-a-half years to finish between recording and touring. It's like being with an old boyfriend every single night watching the same things on TV. There is a world out there going on that I'm missing.
-
In a vague way, I always knew neurosurgery was different - more delicate, more difficult, more demanding. After all, we say things like, 'I'm no brain surgeon,' for a reason.
-
Believe me, you can get into a lot of trouble being sixteen years old in a foreign country with no adult telling you when to come home.
-
My musical career was an accident.
-
I write all the time, even if it means recording in the hotel room. I write on the plane, anywhere, anytime I'm inspired or have ideas.
-
If I do something, it's always 90% obvious and 10% unknown.
-
A lot of directors want to storyboard you, whereas the best way to get a performance out of an actor is a collaborative process where you listen to the actor's input.
-
I love physicality. I love movement very much.
-
My first language is French. I just love words so much, and in French it feels like I can say whatever I want however I want.
-
Our politicians are stupid. And the Mexican government is much smarter, much sharper, much more cunning. And they send the bad ones over because they don't want to pay for them. They don't want to take care of them. Why should they when the stupid leaders of the United States will do it for them?
-
One gal drank a can of floor wax and topped it off with a cup of Clorox, trying to separate herself from the same world he was in.
-
I grew up in a family that always believed in God. And I feel like, every morning when you wake up, you have to thank Him just for another day. I do it every day.
-
Love's heralds should be thoughts, Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams Driving back shadows over low'ring hills. Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love, And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.
-
Any painful experience makes you see things differently. It also reminds you of the simple truths that we purposely forget every day or else we would never get out of bed.
-
Every novelist knows – perhaps everyone knows who has written even a letter, or a page of a diary – that the process of composition involves two separate sensibilities.