Saul Bellow Quotes
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You have to fight for your life. That's the chief condition on which you hold it.
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The only real distinction at this dangerous moment in human history and cosmic development has nothing to do with medals and ribbons. Not to fall asleep is distinguished. Everything else is mere popcorn.
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A human soul devoid of longing was a soul deformed, deprived of its highest good, sick unto death.
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Let the enemies of life step down.
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The best and purest human beings, from the beginning of time, have understood that life is sacred.
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Unless you're completely exploded, there's always something to be grateful for.
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You're all alone when you're a writer. Sometimes you just feel you need a humanity bath. Even a ride on the subway will do that. But it's much more interesting to talk about books. After all, that's what life used to be for writers: they talk books, politics, history, America. Nothing has replaced that.
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At moments I dislike having a face, a nose, lips, because he has them.
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I must play the instrument I've got.
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All human accomplishment has the same origin, identically. Imagination is a force of nature. Is this not enough to make a person full of ecstasy? Imagination, imagination, imagination.
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A plan relieves you of the torment of choice.
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Death is the black backing on the mirror that allows us to see anything at all.
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The challenge of modern freedom, or the combination of isolation and freedom which confronts you, is to make yourself up. The danger is that you may emerge from the process as a not-entirely-human creature. (Referenced in How to Lose Friends and Alienate People by Toby Young)
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I don’t actually take much stock in the collapsing culture bit. I’m beginning to see it instead as the conduct of life without input from your soul.
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I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about the journalists; we can only hope that they will die off as the deerflies do towards the end of August.
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I'm glad I haven't lived in vain.
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I am a phoenix who runs after arsonists.
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And what about all the good I have in my heart - does it mean anything?
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Art attempts to find in the universe, in matter as well as in the facts of life, what is fundamental, enduring, essential.
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A man may say, "From now on I'm going to speak the truth." But the truth hears him and runs away and hides before he's even done speaking.