I've always been a fan of the 19th century novel, of the novel that is plotted, character-driven, and where the passage of time is almost as central to the novel as a major minor character, the passage of time and…

Quote by John Irving

Topics: John Irving Quotes

I suppose I'm proudest of my novels for what's imagined in them. I think the...

I suppose I'm proudest of my novels for what's imagined in them. I think the...

Sigmund Freud was a novelist with a scientific background. He just didn't know he was...

Sigmund Freud was a novelist with a scientific background. He just didn't know he was...

The building of the architecture of a novel - the craft of it - is...

The building of the architecture of a novel - the craft of it - is...

Half my life is an act of revision.

Half my life is an act of revision.

You don't want to dwell on your enemies, you know. I basically feel so superior...

You don't want to dwell on your enemies, you know. I basically feel so superior...

To each other, we were as normal and nice as the smell of bread. We...

To each other, we were as normal and nice as the smell of bread. We...

You've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed.

You've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed.

Good habits are worth being fanatical about.

Good habits are worth being fanatical about.

Sometimes that's a year, sometimes it's 18 months, where all I'm doing is taking notes....

Sometimes that's a year, sometimes it's 18 months, where all I'm doing is taking notes....

And I don't want to begin something, I don't want to write that first sentence...

And I don't want to begin something, I don't want to write that first sentence...

You can't learn everything you need to know legally.

You can't learn everything you need to know legally.

I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I...

I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I...

Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away....

Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away....

I take people very seriously. People are all I take seriously, in fact. Therefore, I...

I take people very seriously. People are all I take seriously, in fact. Therefore, I...

You know, people think you have to be dumb to skip rope for 45 minutes....

You know, people think you have to be dumb to skip rope for 45 minutes....

There are few things as seemingly untouched by the real world as a child asleep.

There are few things as seemingly untouched by the real world as a child asleep.

You've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed.

You've got to get obsessed and stay obsessed.

Oh FUCK the longings and agonies of youth.

Oh FUCK the longings and agonies of youth.

Young love is two hearts with only one thing in mind.

Young love is two hearts with only one thing in mind.

Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.

Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.