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.

Quote by E L Doctorow

Topics: E L Doctorow Quotes

It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but...

It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Like art and politics, gangsterism is a very important avenue of assimilation into society.

Like art and politics, gangsterism is a very important avenue of assimilation into society.

We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where...

We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where...

There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative.

There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative.

I thought I would lose, so I didn't prepare a speech.

I thought I would lose, so I didn't prepare a speech.

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing,...

Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing,...

I try to avoid experience if I can. Most experience is bad.

I try to avoid experience if I can. Most experience is bad.

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time...

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far...

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far...

I can walk into a bookstore and hand over my credit card and they don't...

I can walk into a bookstore and hand over my credit card and they don't...

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

In the twentieth century one of the most personal relationships to have developed is that...

In the twentieth century one of the most personal relationships to have developed is that...

Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader - not the fact that...

Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader - not the fact that...

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

As long as I don't write about the government, religion, politics, and other institutions, I...

As long as I don't write about the government, religion, politics, and other institutions, I...

The pen is a formidable weapon, but a man can kill himself with it a...

The pen is a formidable weapon, but a man can kill himself with it a...

If you're going to write, don't pretend to write down. It's going to be the...

If you're going to write, don't pretend to write down. It's going to be the...