For that reason you can't write with music playing, and anyone who says he can is either writing badly, or not listening to the music, or lying. You need to hear what you're writing, and for that you need silence.

Quote by Philip Pullman

Topics: Philip Pullman Quotes

My only real claim to anyone's attention lies in my writing.

My only real claim to anyone's attention lies in my writing.

We don't need lists of rights and wrongs, tables of do's and don'ts: we need...

We don't need lists of rights and wrongs, tables of do's and don'ts: we need...

Adam and Eve are like imaginary numbers, like the square root of minus one... If...

Adam and Eve are like imaginary numbers, like the square root of minus one... If...

Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it...

Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it...

For a human being, nothing comes naturally. We have to learn everything we do.

For a human being, nothing comes naturally. We have to learn everything we do.

And before I'd got to the end of the first paragraph, I'd come up slap...

And before I'd got to the end of the first paragraph, I'd come up slap...

Argue with anything else, but don't argue with your own nature.

Argue with anything else, but don't argue with your own nature.

I had passed through the entire British education system studying literature, culminating in three years...

I had passed through the entire British education system studying literature, culminating in three years...

Adam and Eve are like imaginary number, like the square root of minus one... If...

Adam and Eve are like imaginary number, like the square root of minus one... If...

If you can't think of what to write, tough luck; write anyway. If you can...

If you can't think of what to write, tough luck; write anyway. If you can...

When you look at organized religion of whatever sort whether it's Christianity in all its...

When you look at organized religion of whatever sort whether it's Christianity in all its...

For a long time I thought I was a poet, but that's a high title...

For a long time I thought I was a poet, but that's a high title...

What I do say is that I can write verse, and that the writing of...

What I do say is that I can write verse, and that the writing of...

Men pass in front of our eyes like butterflies, creatures of a brief season. We...

Men pass in front of our eyes like butterflies, creatures of a brief season. We...

Everything has a meaning, if only we could read it.

Everything has a meaning, if only we could read it.

What I couldn't help noticing was that I learned more about the novel in a...

What I couldn't help noticing was that I learned more about the novel in a...

That's the duty of the old, to be anxious on behalf of the young. And...

That's the duty of the old, to be anxious on behalf of the young. And...

One curious thing about growing up is that you don't only move forward in time;...

One curious thing about growing up is that you don't only move forward in time;...

I have maintained a passionate interest in education, which leads me occasionally to make foolish...

I have maintained a passionate interest in education, which leads me occasionally to make foolish...