My first book was rejected nine times. It turned out to be a best seller, Battle Cry? in 1953. Leon Uris More Quotes by Leon Uris More Quotes From Leon Uris All you have the right to ask of life is to choose a battle in this war, make the best you can, and leave the field with honor. Leon Uris battle honor war After all, the only thing that is going to save mankind is if enough people live their lives for something or someone other than themselves. Leon Uris enough inspiring people Often we have no time for our friends but all the time in the world for our enemies. Leon Uris friends friendship enemy To me, a writer is one of the most important soldiers in the fight for survival of the human race. He must stay at his post in the thick of fire to serve the cause of mankind. Leon Uris fighting race fire Why must we fight for the right to live, over and over, each time the sun rises? Leon Uris sun-rise fighting sun Before I was nine I had learned the basic canon of Arab life. It was me against my brother; me and my brother against our father; my family against my cousins and the clan; the clan against the tribe; and the tribe against the world and all of us against the infidel. Leon Uris cousin brother father You can lie to your wife or your boss, but you cannot lie to your typewriter. Sooner or later you must reveal your true self in your pages. Leon Uris typewriters self lying You aren't a true husband/man until you've done the work of a wife/women Leon Uris wife husband men In order to be a good writer, you've got to be a bad boss. Self-discipline and stamina are the two major arms in a writer's arsenal. Leon Uris self two order A novel takes the courage of a marathon runner, and as long as you have to run, you might as well be a winning marathon runner. Serendipity and blind faith faith in yourself won't hurt a thing. All the bastards in the world will snicker and sneer because they haven't the talent to zip up their flies by themselves. To hell with them, particularly the critics. Stand in there, son, no matter how badly you are battered and hurt. Leon Uris hurt running son The ability of a person to atone has always been the most remarkable of human features. Leon Uris apologizing apology sorry Talent isn't enough. You need motivation-and persistence, too: what Steinbeck called a blend of faith and arrogance. When you're young, plain old poverty can be enough, along with an insatiable hunger for recognition. You have to have that feeling of "I'll show them." If you don't have it, don't become a writer. Leon Uris persistence insatiable-hunger motivation The first thing you have to do is get immersed in the project, organizing yourself, knowing what you are going after and not going after. It is extremely important to know what you don't want to find. Research to me is as important or more important than the writing. It is the foundation upon which the book is built. Leon Uris knowing writing book Life hinges on many factors we cannot control. Two of the most important factors, we can control. We can manage our relationships-and what is life but a series of relationships?-and we can correct our mistakes, here on earth within our life span. Leon Uris important mistake two Who here wants to be a writer?' I asked. Everyone in the room raised his hand. 'Why the hell aren't you home writing?' I said, and left the stage. Leon Uris home writing hands Writing, basically breaks down to relationships between people and that is what you write about. Leon Uris breaking-down writing people If you're lucky enough to fall in love, that's one thing. Otherwise all that was ever truly beautiful to me was boyhood. It's the meal we sup on for the rest of our lives. Love puts the icing on life. But if you don't find it...you must call on your childhood memories over and over till you do. Leon Uris falling-in-love beautiful memories You can try to reach an audience, but you just write what comes out of you and you just hope that it is accepted. You do not write specifically to a generation. Leon Uris generations writing trying A soldier has one item that cannot be neglected. His feet. They are his wheels, his mechanised warfare. Leon Uris wheels soldier feet A novelist must know what his last chapter is going to say and one way or another work toward that last chapter. ... To me it is utterly basic, yet it seems like it's a great secret. Leon Uris novelists secret way
