E. L. Doctorow Quotes
History is the present. That's why every generation writes it anew. But what most people think of as history is its end product, myth.
Quotes to Explore
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Faith may be defined briefly as an illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable.
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I took my acting very seriously. I did over 40 films, and naturally, some of them were called B-movies because the woman was at the top of the billing. Women couldn't star in their own movies.
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Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness.
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On stage, I like to dress up a bit. I'm not scared to be like a character up there.
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I think what 'The Monster' means to me is I find it really hard - like a lot of other people in the world - to really be OK in my own skin. It was a message to myself saying, 'It's OK that you're not perfect.' I'm gonna learn to love myself and accept myself, even though I'm a little crazy.
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When civilization takes a nose dive, how can you look away? You've got to be there. You've got to be at the bottom of the swimming pool taking notes.
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When I hear someone, instantaneously, I'm like, 'Who's singing?' You're giving people so much of yourself, and my voice is the most natural, distinctive tool I have. It's up to me to express myself on a wider scale than just writing vocal melodies and lyrics.
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When I started making movies, I was pretty young, and at the time I felt like there needed to be more confrontation in cinema - or I needed to make something more disruptive - so in the beginning, those movies were me wanting to play with the rules.
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My mom says that when I was a little kid, I always used to say I wanted to be an actor, but I don't remember that.
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Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.
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We tend in this country to talk about Democrats and Republicans, and think there's little group over there called Independents that's maybe 2%. That is not the case, and it has not been the case for most of modern American history.
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My great-grandchildren will not be able to enjoy the Gulf Coast of Louisiana the way I have.
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I'm not a babysitter.
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If you be faithful, you will have that honor that comes from God: his Spirit will say in your hearts, Well done, good and faithful servants.
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My father was an accountant and his father was a typographer.
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Every man I meet is in some way my superior.
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The Wood was about young people and the other one is more of a grown up movie.
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I'm probably proudest of being able to lift a lot of us out of the 'hood. That's the biggest thing, that I've been able to employ a lot of people and give them opportunities.
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To defend a country you need an army, but to defend a civilization you need education.
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A man needs to feel a little fear, Tolui, if only to have the pride of conquering it.
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When we are returned to power we want to put in the statute book an act which will make our people citizens of the world before they are citizens of this country.
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Sometimes I'm very disappointed at some of the people in our family of communicators, whether it be a songwriter or a rapper that's always talking about negativity or a singer or a columnist or a network that basically gets off on just trying to create the negative.
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What is important is family, friends, giving back to your community and finding meaning in life.
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History is the present. That's why every generation writes it anew. But what most people think of as history is its end product, myth.
