Some writers confuse authenticity, which they ought always to aim at, with originality, which they should never bother about.

Quote by William Faulkner

Topics: Writers Quotes

The last sound on the worthless earth will be two human beings trying to launch...

The last sound on the worthless earth will be two human beings trying to launch...

I decline to accept the end of man.

I decline to accept the end of man.

You should approach Joyce's Ulysses as the illiterate Baptist preacher approaches the Old Testament: with...

You should approach Joyce's Ulysses as the illiterate Baptist preacher approaches the Old Testament: with...

A mule will labor ten years willingly and patiently for you, for the privilege of...

A mule will labor ten years willingly and patiently for you, for the privilege of...

To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race or...

To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race or...

Tomorrow night is nothing but one long sleepless wrestle with yesterday's omissions and regrets.

Tomorrow night is nothing but one long sleepless wrestle with yesterday's omissions and regrets.

I can remember how when I was young I believed death to be a phenomenon...

I can remember how when I was young I believed death to be a phenomenon...

Given a choice between grief and nothing, I'd choose grief.

Given a choice between grief and nothing, I'd choose grief.

If a writer has to rob his mother, he will not hesitate: The 'Ode on...

If a writer has to rob his mother, he will not hesitate: The 'Ode on...

Man will not merely endure; he will prevail.

Man will not merely endure; he will prevail.

I'm inclined to think that a military background wouldn't hurt anyone.

I'm inclined to think that a military background wouldn't hurt anyone.

Pointless... like giving caviar to an elephant.

Pointless... like giving caviar to an elephant.

This is a free country. Folks have a right to send me letters, and I...

This is a free country. Folks have a right to send me letters, and I...

A writer is congenitally unable to tell the truth and that is why we call...

A writer is congenitally unable to tell the truth and that is why we call...

If I had not existed, someone else would have written me, Hemingway, Dostoevski, all of...

If I had not existed, someone else would have written me, Hemingway, Dostoevski, all of...

Everything goes by the board: honor, pride, decency to get the book written.

Everything goes by the board: honor, pride, decency to get the book written.

The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past.

The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past.

Perhaps they were right in putting love into books... Perhaps it could not live anywhere...

Perhaps they were right in putting love into books... Perhaps it could not live anywhere...

A man's moral conscience is the curse he had to accept from the gods in...

A man's moral conscience is the curse he had to accept from the gods in...

Facts and truth really don't have much to do with each other.

Facts and truth really don't have much to do with each other.