remember this: no matter how politely or distinctly you ask a Parisian a question he will persist in answering you in French. Fran Lebowitz More Quotes by Fran Lebowitz More Quotes From Fran Lebowitz In conversation you can use timing, a look, an inflection. But on the page all you have is commas, dashes, the amount of syllables in a word. When I write, I read everything out loud to get the right rhythm. Fran Lebowitz pages use writing Abandon the search for Truth; settle for a good fantasy Fran Lebowitz bumper-sticker settling fantasy By the time everyone catches up with you, you're bored. Fran Lebowitz bored I hate, simply, to work. I just hate to work, period. I am profoundly slothful. Practically inert. Fran Lebowitz i-hate hate work I believe that at birth everyone gets the capacity for a certain amount of drugs and alcohol, everyone the same, you can do it all between 15 and 19 like I did, or you can stretch it out over 70 years. Fran Lebowitz alcohol believe years You should make it hard on yourself to write so you’re easier to read. Fran Lebowitz easier should writing Any artist who has that quality of timelessness has that quality because they tell the truth. Fran Lebowitz quality telling-the-truth artist Being poor is like being a child. Being rich is like being an adult: you get to do whatever you want. Everyone is nice when they have to be; rich people are nice when they feel like it. Fran Lebowitz nice children people The only appropriate response to the question, 'Can I be frank?' is, 'Yes, if I can be Barbara. Fran Lebowitz barbara frank honesty What starts love is your ability to stupefy and blind yourself to the point of being able to fall in love. What stops it is waking up. Fran Lebowitz wake-up love fall Scientists are rarely to be counted among the fun people. Awkward at parties, shy with strangers, deficient in irony - they have had no choice but to turn their attention to the close study of everyday objects. Fran Lebowitz party fun science When someone asks, 'Why do you think he's not calling me?' there's always one answer - 'He's not interested.' There's not ever any other answer. Fran Lebowitz dating calling thinking When I'm supposed to be writing I clean my apartment, take my clothes to the laundry, get organized, make lists, do the dishes. I would never do a dish unless I had to write. Fran Lebowitz clothes lists writing The Italians are the most civilized people. And they're very warm. Basically, they're Jews with great architecture. Fran Lebowitz jew architecture people If you want to get ahead in this world get a lawyer -- not a book. Fran Lebowitz want book world I must take issue with the term 'a mere child,' for it has been my invariable experience that the company of a mere child is infinitely preferable to that of a mere adult. Fran Lebowitz issues inspirational children People have been cooking and eating for thousands of years, so if you are the very first to have thought of adding fresh lime juice to scalloped potatoes try to understand that there must be a reason for this. Fran Lebowitz food people years I'd like to decide who comes here. I'd like to be the admissions director of New York. Fran Lebowitz admission new-york directors I love sleep because it is both pleasant and safe to use. Fran Lebowitz use safe sleep If you feel the urge to write, just lie down and read a book: it will pass. Fran Lebowitz writing book lying