What characterizes a member of a minority group is that he is forced to see himself as both exceptional and insignificant, marvelous and awful, good and evil.

Quote by Norman Mailer

Topics: Norman Mailer Quotes

Ultimately a hero is a man who would argue with the gods, and so awakens...

Ultimately a hero is a man who would argue with the gods, and so awakens...

Sentimentality is the emotional promiscuity of those who have no sentiment.

Sentimentality is the emotional promiscuity of those who have no sentiment.

The horror of the Twentieth Century was the size of each new event, and the...

The horror of the Twentieth Century was the size of each new event, and the...

In America few people will trust you unless you are irreverent.

In America few people will trust you unless you are irreverent.

I don't think life is absurd. I think we are all here for a huge...

I don't think life is absurd. I think we are all here for a huge...

Growth, in some curious way, I suspect, depends on being always in motion just a...

Growth, in some curious way, I suspect, depends on being always in motion just a...

When I read it, I don't wince, which is all I ever ask for a...

When I read it, I don't wince, which is all I ever ask for a...

The final purpose of art is to intensify, even, if necessary, to exacerbate, the moral...

The final purpose of art is to intensify, even, if necessary, to exacerbate, the moral...

I hate everything which is not in myself.

I hate everything which is not in myself.

Dying cant be all that difficult, up to now everyone has managed to do it.

Dying cant be all that difficult, up to now everyone has managed to do it.

The highest prize in a world of men is the most beautiful woman available on...

The highest prize in a world of men is the most beautiful woman available on...

There is nothing safe about sex. There never will be.

There is nothing safe about sex. There never will be.

There was that law of life, so cruel and so just, that one must grow...

There was that law of life, so cruel and so just, that one must grow...

Writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing.

Writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing.

Revolutions are the periods of history when individuals count most.

Revolutions are the periods of history when individuals count most.

America is a hurricane, and the only people who do not hear the sound are...

America is a hurricane, and the only people who do not hear the sound are...

There are four stages in a marriage. First there's the affair, then the marriage, then...

There are four stages in a marriage. First there's the affair, then the marriage, then...

It's not the sentiments of men which make history but their actions.

It's not the sentiments of men which make history but their actions.

There's a subterranean impetus towards pornography so powerful that half the business world is juiced...

There's a subterranean impetus towards pornography so powerful that half the business world is juiced...

The Irish are the only men who know how to cry for the dirty polluted...

The Irish are the only men who know how to cry for the dirty polluted...