It's interesting to leave a place, interesting even to think about it. Leaving reminds us of what we can part with and what we can't, then offers us something new to look forward to, to dream about. Richard Ford More Quotes by Richard Ford More Quotes From Richard Ford Only sometimes you can't feel anything about a subject without hypothesizing its extinction. Richard Ford extinction feels sometimes Very early you come to the realization that nothing will ever take you away from yourself. Richard Ford realization I didn't feel up to writing about 9/11. If I were to write about it, it would take me years. Richard Ford take-me writing years Most things don't stay the way they are for very long. I take nothing for granted and try to be ready for the change that's soon to come. Richard Ford trying long way Finally I do like best of all stories whose necessity is in the implied recognition that someplace out there there exists an urgency-a chaos-, an insanity, a misrule of some dire sort which can end life as we know it but for the fact that this very story is written, this order found, this style determined, the worst averted, and we are beneficiaries of that order by being readers Richard Ford style insanity order I think once you love somebody, you love somebody; that's just how it is. Richard Ford thinking I'm an equal opportunity reader - although I don't much read plays. And since I was raised a Presbyterian, pretty much all pleasures are guilty. Richard Ford guilty play opportunity I started reading literature at 17 or 18, and I felt this extra beat to life. Richard Ford beats reading literature I had a Tourette's period. And obsessive compulsive disorder. Things would get in my brain that I couldn't get out of my brain. Richard Ford obsessive-compulsive disorder brain Maybe I'm a serial regional writer. First here, then there, across the map. Richard Ford serials maps firsts I don't have a very logical and orderly mind. Richard Ford orderly logical mind My job is to have empathy and curiosity for things that I've never done. Also, I'm a person whom people talk to. Richard Ford empathy jobs people Happiness for me is getting to write about the most important things I know. Richard Ford important writing happiness The ways in which things are superficially similar but also distinct is interesting to me. Richard Ford way interesting When people realize they are being listened to, they tell you things. Richard Ford realizing listening people The pace of life feels morally dangerous to me. Richard Ford pace-of-life dangerous pace Cynicism makes you feel smart, I know it, even when you aren't smart. Richard Ford smart cynicism feels If there's another thing that sportswriting teaches you, it is that there are no transcendent themes in life. In all cases things are here and they're over, and that has to be enough. Richard Ford theme cases enough I grew up in Mississippi being told it was a great place, but not feeling that. When I finally began reading seriously, literature showed me something about where I was from which was worthwhile. Richard Ford reading literature feelings I get very involved in the internal logic of sentences. Richard Ford sentences internals logic