For what does it mean to be a hero? It requires you to be Norman Mailer More Quotes by Norman Mailer More Quotes From Norman Mailer You're gambling with something vital. Most writers get smashed egos. Norman Mailer gambling ego Nearly everything in the scheme of things works to dull a first-rate talent. But the worst probably is cowardice. Norman Mailer courage dull firsts I guess all that's left is to love the fire. Norman Mailer left fire There are four stages to marriage. First there's the affair, then there's the marriage, then children, and finally the fourth stage, without which you cannot know a woman, the divorce. Norman Mailer divorce cynical children It's not the sentiments of men which make history but their actions. Norman Mailer literature action men I no longer gave a sick dog's drop for the wisdom, the reliability and the authority of the public's literary mind, those creeps and old ladies of vested reviewing. Norman Mailer sick dog mind Over-certified adjectives are the mark of most best-seller writing Norman Mailer adjectives mark writing As Kierkegaard was the first to suggest, we can never know where our prayers are likely to go nor from whom the answers will come. When we think we are nearest to God, we could be assisting the Devil. Norman Mailer devil prayer thinking Existentialism is the kind of philosophy that makes for legendary children. Norman Mailer existentialism philosophy children Growth, in some curious way, I suspect, depends on being always in motion just a little bit, one way or another. Norman Mailer growth organization motivational Amateurs... venture into scenes that a writer with more experience (and more professional concern) would bypass or eschew altogether. Norman Mailer bypass venture writing Because there is very little honor left in American life, there is a certain built-in tendency to destroy masculinity in American men. Norman Mailer honor littles men I'm a great believer in the hereafter, in karma, in reincarnation. It does make sense. I believe that God is not just a law-giver, but a creative artist. The greatest of all. And what characterises artists is that they want to redo their work. Maybe it didn't come off perfectly, so they want to see it done again, and improved. Reincarnation is a way for God to improve his earlier works. Norman Mailer karma artist believe There's nothing glorious about being a professional. . . . Professionalism probably comes down to being able to work on a bad day. Norman Mailer bad-day able inspirational If a person is not talented enough to be a novelist, not smart enough to be a lawyer, and his hands are too shaky to perform operations, he becomes a journalist. Norman Mailer smart novelists hands Chicago was a town where nobody could forget how the money was made. It was picked up from floors still slippery with blood. Norman Mailer chicago cities blood What characterizes a member of a minority group is that he is forced to see himself as both exceptional and insignificant, marvelous and awful, good and evil. Norman Mailer minorities groups evil Hip is the sophistication of the wise primitive in a giant jungle. Norman Mailer giants literature wise When the time comes, they won't ask what kind of a Jew you are. Norman Mailer jew asks kind Tough guys don't dance. You had better believe it. Norman Mailer dance inspirational believe