How easily we ignore or forget the small kindnesses and considerations in life which are really the only everyday magic we witness on a regular basis. Just think- to make happiness out of nothing more than a few kind words or a generous gesture. Jonathan Carroll More Quotes by Jonathan Carroll More Quotes From Jonathan Carroll Fear's greatest weapon is its ability to blind one to anything. In its presence, we forget there are others to consider, things to save besides ourselves. Jonathan Carroll blind weapons forget The future is fastidious and punctual. It keeps perfect time and arrives everywhere on the dot. In contrast, its slacker brother the past has no use for clocks or appointments. It comes and goes as it pleases in our memory, camping out wherever the hell it damn well wants to in there. Untrustworthy, prone to exaggeration, biased- you wouldn't lend it ten cents, but it *sure* can be charming and seductive when it feels like it. Jonathan Carroll brother memories past I forgive nothing. If you stole my orange crayon in the fifth grade, you're still on my hit list, buddy. Jonathan Carroll fifth-grade orange forgiving Your boyfriend had a dream about potatoes and you're asking me to interpret it? I'm just old. Being old doesn't mean you know more; it means you ate enough fiber. Jonathan Carroll your-boyfriend dream mean Everything you want in life has teeth. Jonathan Carroll teeth want I had always liked blind dates. If nothing else, it was an interesting way of discovering what people thought of you. Jonathan Carroll people way interesting Its easy to lose sight of what you want when you think you want everything. Jonathan Carroll sight want thinking It took me less than half a lifetime to realize that regret is one of the few guaranteed certainties. Sooner or later everything is touched by it, despite our naive and senseless hope that just this time we will be spared its cold hand on our heart. Jonathan Carroll regret heart hands I find you write with one person in mind. Usually for me that one person is my wife, because she's my most severe critic and understands best what I'm trying to do. Jonathan Carroll wife mind writing The angel said, "I like black-and-white films more than color because they're more artificial. You have to work harder to overcome your disbelief. It's sort of like prayer. Jonathan Carroll black-and-white angel prayer A short story is a sprint, a novel is a marathon. Sprinters have seconds to get from here to there and then they are finished. Marathoners have to carefully pace themselves so that they don't run out of energy (or in the case of the novelist-- ideas) because they have so far to run. To mix the metaphor, writing a short story is like having a short intense affair, whereas writing a novel is like a long rich marriage. Jonathan Carroll writing running ideas If you are a success in life, there are places you must go and pay to be humiliated. It is an unwritten law that human beings must be tormented throughout their lives in one way or another. If you are fortunate enough to have risen to a social level where no one does it to you for free, then you must pay for the service. Jonathan Carroll levels law doe The only question that nobody ever asks is: What breaks your heart? I think that should be asked of all "artists."... So, what breaks your heart? Jonathan Carroll artist heart thinking Dogs are here to remind us life really is a simple thing. You eat, sleep, take walks, and pee when you must. That's about all there is. They are quick to forgive trespasses and assume strangers will be kind. Jonathan Carroll simple dog sleep I started a short story but it was so dreary that even my pen threw up. Jonathan Carroll short-story pens stories Kids own nothing. Everything is either promised, borrowed, longed for or exaggerated. Jonathan Carroll borrowed exaggerated kids At a Boston signing, someone from the audience asked why I was so obsessed with furniture in my books. The question rattled around in my head. I had no idea that I was obsessed with furniture. Jonathan Carroll boston book ideas Coffee on an airplane always smells bad. Whenever it is served, suddenly the whole cabin stinks of it. Jonathan Carroll smell airplane coffee I have never heard anyone say This is it. I know right now is the high point of my life. It will never get any better. Only in retrospect do we recognize the best times and of course then it is too late. Jonathan Carroll retrospect heard too-late When you love someone deeply, you know secrets they haven't told you yet. Or secrets they aren't even aware of themselves. ... She was also the person I wanted to share the trivia of my life with, because that too is part of the magic of concern: Whatever you live is important to them and they will help you through it. Jonathan Carroll when-you-love-someone magic secret
