We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges. Gene Wolfe More Quotes by Gene Wolfe More Quotes From Gene Wolfe You never learn how to write a novel. You just learn how to write the novel that you're writing. Gene Wolfe novel writing Imagine a man who stands before a mirror; a stone strikes it, and it falls to ruin all in an instant. And the man learns that he is himself, and not the mirrored man he had believed himself to be. Gene Wolfe mirrors men fall Weak people believe what is forced on them. Strong people what they wish to believe, forcing that to be real. Gene Wolfe strong real believe People don't want other people to be people. Gene Wolfe getting-high want people There is no limit to stupidity. - Space itself is said to be bounded by its own curvature, but stupidity continues beyond infinity. Gene Wolfe stupidity space ignorance Certain mystes aver that the real world has been constructed by the human mind, since our ways are governed by the artificial categories into which we place essentially undifferentiated things, things weaker than our words for them. We believe we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges. Gene Wolfe real mind believe Evolution teaches us the original purpose of language was to ritualize men's threats and curses, his spells to compel the gods; communication came later. Gene Wolfe communication purpose men All time exists. That is the truth.... If the future did not exist now, how could we journey toward it? If the past does not exist still, how could we leave it behind? Gene Wolfe journey time past So powerful is the charm of words, which for us reduces to manageable entities all the passions that would otherwise madden and destroy us. Gene Wolfe charm passion powerful My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure. Gene Wolfe pleasure definitions literature You do not characterize by telling the reader about the character. You do it by showing the character thinking, speaking and acting in a characteristic way. You simply show it and shut up. Gene Wolfe writing character thinking That was when I found out that the best way in the world to make yourself feel better when you have hit bottom is to try to get somebody else to feel better. There are certain things in life that are truly worth knowing, and that is one of the big ones. Gene Wolfe things-in-life feel-better knowing All novels are fantasies. Some are more honest about it. Gene Wolfe fantasy honest novel There's a certain kind of lonely man who rejects love, because he believes that anyone who offers it wouldn't be a lover worth having. Gene Wolfe lonely men believe A hundred wise men have said in various ways that love transcends the power of death, and millions of fools have supposed that they meant nothing by it. At this late hour in my life I have learned what they meant. They meant that love transcends death. They are correct. Gene Wolfe wise men life There is no magic. There is only knowledge, more or less hidden. Gene Wolfe magic ...I rejoiced in the flaws that made her more real to me Gene Wolfe flaws real made Religion and science have always been matters of faith in something. It is the same something. Gene Wolfe science-and-religion matter You're a materialist, like all ignorant people. But your materialism doesn't make materialism true. Don't you know that? In the final summing up, it is spirit and dream, thought and love and act that matter. Gene Wolfe ignorant dream people My whole life experience feeds into my writing. I think that must be true for every writer. Clearly the Army and combat were major influences; just the same, you need to understand that many of the writers we have now couldn't load a revolver. Gene Wolfe army writing thinking
