Before things are written down they don't exist in quite the same way. The act of fixing them in words gives them a kind of currency that can be traded. Erica Jong More Quotes by Erica Jong More Quotes From Erica Jong My reaction to porno films is as follows: After the first ten minutes, I want to go home and screw. After the first twenty minutes, I never want to screw again as long as I live. Erica Jong home long sex If, every day, I dare to remember that I am here on loan, that this house, this hillside, these minutes are all leased to me, not given, I will never despair. Erica Jong despair house remember The trick is not how much pain you feel--but how much joy you feel. Any idiot can feel pain. Life is full of excuses to feel pain, excuses not to live, excuses, excuses, excuses. Erica Jong pain hurt inspirational Great loves have legs and wings. They are substantial. They do not dissapate so easily... Great loves have staying power. Or so I told myself. Erica Jong great-love legs wings I have lived my life according to this principle: If I'm afraid of it, then I must do it. Erica Jong principles ifs inspirational Critics write out of intellectual exercise, not poets. Poets write straight from the heart. Erica Jong exercise heart writing Motherhood cannot finally be delegated. Breast-feeding may succumb to the bottle; cuddling, fondling, and paediatric visits may also be done by fathers...but when a child needs a mother to talk to, nobody else but a mother will do. Erica Jong mom mother children I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged...I had poems which were re-written so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out. Erica Jong finishing writing years In a bad marriage, friends are the invisible glue. If we have enough friends, we may go on for years, intending to leave, talking about leaving -instead of actually getting up and leaving. Erica Jong bad-relationship talking friendship What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else? I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago. Erica Jong long-ago believe country Though my friends envied me because I always seemed so cheerful and confident, I was secretly terrified of practically everything. Erica Jong envied terrified cheerful A book burrows into your life in a very profound way because the experience of reading is not passive. Erica Jong reading profound book Courage is the only Magic worth having. Erica Jong magic courage The dilemma is that if one does not risk anything one risks even more. Erica Jong dilemma risk doe Betrayal betrays the betrayer. Erica Jong betray betrayal betrayed It's hard to do fiction and nonfiction simultaneously. Erica Jong fiction-and-nonfiction nonfiction fiction The camera creates a magical transformation. It's not enough to exist; we must chronicle that existence. ... Narrative- and image-making creatures like humans don't feel any experience is complete unless it's recorded. Erica Jong cameras narrative photography We were not human beings going through spiritual experiences; we were spiritual beings going through human experiences, in order to grow. Erica Jong human-experience spiritual order Silence is the bluntest of blunt instruments. Erica Jong blunt instruments silence If you don't have time to do it right you must have time to do it right you must have time to do it over. If you don't know where you are going, how do you know when you get there? If you don't risk anything, you risk even more. Erica Jong where-you-are risk knows
