Saul Bellow Quotes
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There is simply too much to think about.
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A man must have limits and cannot give in to the wild desires to be everything and everyone and everything to everyone.
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With a novelist, like a surgeon, you have to get a feeling that you've fallen into good hands - someone from whom you can accept the anesthetic with confidence.
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It seems, after all that there are no nonpeculiar people.
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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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At moments I dislike having a face, a nose, lips, because he has them.
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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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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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Death is the black backing on the mirror that allows us to see anything at all.
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It is a joy to be choked with thought.
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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 fool can throw a stone in a pond that 100 wise men can not get out.
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The first undressing of two lovers is a most special event.
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For the first time in history, the human species as a whole has gone into politics. Everyone is in the act, and there is no telling what may come of it.
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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.
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Is our species crazy? Plenty of evidence.
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How should I know why! I didn't invent human beings, Iggy.
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There are evils that have the ability to survive identification and go on for ever... money, for instance, or war.
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We are funny creatures. We don't see the stars as they are, so why do we love them? They are not small gold objects, but endless fire.
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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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And what about all the good I have in my heart - does it mean anything?
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Fidelity is for phonographs
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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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Well, everybody has a history.