John Irving Quotes
I think better of our behaviour as individuals than I do when we see ourselves as members of a group. It's when people start forming groups that we have to watch our backs.
Quotes to Explore
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Our parents all experimented with raising us in a fairly loose, unorthodox way. A huge emphasis was placed on creativity, and our artistic efforts were never dismissed as childish. There was a sense that we - kids and grown-ups - all had the potential to make something of value. Our drawings were not simply destined for the refrigerator.
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My life has been a dream. If someone had to write a story about it, it would seem a little unreal. It's the kind of story I would read and say, 'Nah, that's not possible.'
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Dealing with the government does not mean you have to give a bribe.
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Russia can be quite a dangerous place sometimes, but I never think about it.
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I gratefully look forward to oblivion, but I must be sure of it.
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I've done movies I'm very proud of, but there's always a sense of: 'Come see this shiny new car!' The question I hate the most is: 'Why should people see it?'
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Truth, when not sought after, rarely comes to light.
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The closer a Negro got to the ballot box, the more he looked like a rapist.
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It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars.
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I find celebrity really scary.
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In Maryland, we have the unfortunate distinction of being the most gerrymandered state in the entire nation.
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I'm vehemently against population transfer. I'm against expelling anyone from his house, ever - whether it be a Jew or an Arab.
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A fine world in which man reproaches woman with fulfilling his heart's desire!
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Religion is the recognition of all our duties as divine commands.
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I'm a Sufi Muslim, I would say. I believe in using the medium to create a good vibration because art is so important to society. Some projects I don't do because I feel that it's going to create a bad vibe. I don't do propaganda films that are anti another religion, anti-Muslim or anti-Hindu.
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We create success or failure on the course primarily by our thoughts.
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The cultural expectation should be if there's infidelity, the marriage is more important than fidelity.
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I was all about my thoughts, my work, my inspiration. I was always in hair.
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Let me be absolutely clear. Israel is a strong friend of Israel's. It will be a strong friend of Israel's under a McCain administration. It will be a strong friend of Israel's under an Obama administration. So that policy is not going to change.
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We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit.
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Go on, have a pasty," said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry's pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten).
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The future of America may or may not bring forth a black President, a woman President, a Jewish President, but it most certainly always will have a suburban President. A President whose senses have been defined by the suburbs, where lakes and public baths mutate into back yards and freeways, where walking means driving, where talking means telephoning, where watching means TV, and where living means real, imitation life.
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Everything evens up, you just wait, Even a garbage can gets a steak, You ain't even a garbage can, you have faith!
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I think better of our behaviour as individuals than I do when we see ourselves as members of a group. It's when people start forming groups that we have to watch our backs.
