The only virtue a character needs to possess between hardcovers, even if he bears a real person's name, is vitality: if he comes to life in our imaginations, he passes the test.

Quote by Stephen Vizinczey

Topics: Stephen Vizinczey Quotes

We now have a whole culture based on the assumption that people know nothing and...

We now have a whole culture based on the assumption that people know nothing and...

Strange as it may seem, no amount of learning can cure stupidity, and formal education...

Strange as it may seem, no amount of learning can cure stupidity, and formal education...

When you close your eyes to tragedy, you close your eyes to greatness.

When you close your eyes to tragedy, you close your eyes to greatness.

People will either like you for your money or they'll resent you for having it.....

People will either like you for your money or they'll resent you for having it.....

Modesty is an excuse for sloppiness, laziness, self-indulgence; small ambitions evoke small efforts.

Modesty is an excuse for sloppiness, laziness, self-indulgence; small ambitions evoke small efforts.

Dictatorship is a constant lecture instructing you that your feelings, your thoughts and desires are...

Dictatorship is a constant lecture instructing you that your feelings, your thoughts and desires are...

The truth is that our race survived ignorance; it is our scientific genius that will...

The truth is that our race survived ignorance; it is our scientific genius that will...

Is it possible that I am not alone in believing that in the dispute between...

Is it possible that I am not alone in believing that in the dispute between...

Most bad books get that way because their authors are engaged in trying to justify...

Most bad books get that way because their authors are engaged in trying to justify...

Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them...

Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a potency of life in them...

He is running not for election but for the history books.

He is running not for election but for the history books.

The chief knowledge that a man gets from reading books is the knowledge that very...

The chief knowledge that a man gets from reading books is the knowledge that very...

Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of...

Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of...

The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has always been the tribute...

The burning of an author's books, imprisonment for opinion's sake, has always been the tribute...

I can look at [my books] with pleasure from a distance. Four feet is close...

I can look at [my books] with pleasure from a distance. Four feet is close...

The law is not the private property of lawyers, nor is justice the exclusive province...

The law is not the private property of lawyers, nor is justice the exclusive province...

The sacred books should be burned rather than made available to women.

The sacred books should be burned rather than made available to women.

A man can stand a lot as long as he can stand himself. He can...

A man can stand a lot as long as he can stand himself. He can...

If I read a book that impresses me, I have to take myself firmly in...

If I read a book that impresses me, I have to take myself firmly in...

Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and...

Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and...