Life," Garp wrote, "is sadly not structured like a good old-fashioned novel. Instead an end occurs when those who are meant to peter out have petered out. All that is left is memory. But even a nihilist has memory. John Irving More Quotes by John Irving More Quotes From John Irving No touching Baby Jesus.” “But we’re his parents!” proclaimed Mary Beth, who was being generous to include poor Joseph under this appellation. “Mary Beth,” Barb Wiggin said, “if you touch the Baby Jesus, I’m putting you in a cow costume. John Irving parent baby jesus If pride is a sin ... moral pride is the greatest sin. John Irving moral sin pride No adult in my family would ever tell me anything about who my father was. I knew from an older cousin - only four years older than I am - everything, or what little I could discover about him. John Irving cousin father years Nearly everything seems a letdown after a writer has finished writing something. John Irving letdowns scary writing My brain is sending poison to my heart. John Irving poison brain heart She was an expert at the art of sudden appearance. John Irving appearance experts art It's not right to hurt or deceive someone who's already been hurt and deceived. John Irving deceived deceiving hurt People regard art too highly, and history not enough John Irving enough people art Death, it seems," Garp wrote, "does not like to wait until we are prepared for it. Death is indulgent and enjoys, when it can, a flair for the dramatic. John Irving dramatic waiting doe Gender mattered a whole lot less to Shakespeare than it seems to matter to us. John Irving gender whole matter I suppose I'm proudest of my novels for what's imagined in them. I think the world of my imagination is a richer and more interesting place than my personal biography. John Irving imagination interesting thinking No one but me ever put a hand on me to feel that baby. No one wanted to put his ear against it and listen...You shouldn't have a baby if there's no one who wants to feel it kick or listen to it move. John Irving baby hands moving The main character and the most important character are not always the same person - you have to know the difference. John Irving differences important character Be serious. Life hurts. Reflect what hurts. I don't mean that you can't also be funny, or have fun, but at the end of the day, stories are about what you lose. John Irving hurt fun mean A sentence boiled in her, but she could not yet see it clearly. John Irving sentences life What has been violated here is your freedom of choice, and every woman's freedom of choice, too. John Irving freedom-of-choice abortion choices Self-hatred is worse than loneliness. John Irving loneliness hatred self It's my experience that very few writers, young or old, are really seeking advice when they give out their work to be read. They want support; they want someone to say, "Good job." John Irving writing jobs giving Rituals are comforting; rituals combat loneliness. John Irving combat loneliness comforting Dan suggested to Owen and me that we were better off to not involve ourselves with Hester. How true! But how we wanted to be involved in the thrilling real-life sleaziness that we suspected Hester was in the thick-of. We were in a phase, through television and the movies, of living only vicariously. Even faintly sordid silliness excited us if it put us in contact with love. John Irving phases real television
