Success is like a mountain that keeps growing ahead of you as you hike it... Err in the direction of kindness. George Saunders More Quotes by George Saunders More Quotes From George Saunders I wasted a lot of years working on my writing and very grandly saying, 'And now... My Novel!,' which would soon be reduced to a short story, then to a paragraph. George Saunders stories writing years I was a straight arrow, a control freak. I didn't do drugs or drink, and this was the '70s. I didn't like the loss of control. Which isn't exactly right, because I didn't know what happened when you did drugs. George Saunders arrows drug loss Down in the city are the nice houses and the so-so houses and the lovers making out in dark yards and the babies crying for their moms, and I wonder if, other than Jesus, has this ever happened before. Maybe it happens all the time. Maybe there's angry dead all over, hiding in rooms, covered with blankets, bossing around their scared, embarrassed relatives. Because how would we know? George Saunders mom baby jesus Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life. George Saunders whole-life mountain growing When I wrote that [Donald] Trump piece, I had this uncomfortable experience of sensing a lot of things that were nascent, that I couldn't quite articulate. And one of them was this move toward anti-intellectualism. An anti-love move, even. George Saunders anti-love pieces moving What once were two, are one George Saunders funny-love love funny Why were we put here, so inclined to love, when end of our story = death? That harsh. That cruel. Do not like. George Saunders harsh stories life Based on the experience of my life, which I have not exactly hit out of the park, I tend to agree with that thing about, If it's not broke, don't fix it. And would go even further to: Even if it is broke, leave it alone, you'll probably make it worse. George Saunders broke agree parks When I write I know that I'm going to have to produce 40 percent more than I need. George Saunders produce writing needs There might be a different model for a literary community that's quicker, more real-time, and involves more spontaneity. George Saunders community different real That seems to be the definition of 'novel' for me: a story that hasn't yet discovered a way to be brief. George Saunders definitions stories way I see that being looked at askance as a form of elitism now, which is really scary. George Saunders really-scary form scary Do all the other things, the ambitious things - travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes...but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness. George Saunders falling-in-love kindness graduation Anyone can be shamed, but feeling guilt requires empathy within. George Saunders empathy guilt feelings Goodbye. I am leaving because I am bored. George Saunders mad crazy goodbye I'm from a pretty working-class background, and I really worked hard in my life to eradicate those parts of myself that were stupidly trapped in that world.Those of us who come up that way made a series of choices to benefit ourselves and make ourselves more generous and open. George Saunders benefits choices class I tend to foster drama via bleakness. If I want the reader to feel sympathy for a character, I cleave the character in half, on his birthday. And then it starts raining. And he's made of sugar. George Saunders rain birthday drama It was that impossible thing: happiness that does not wilt to reveal the thin shoots of some new desire rising from within it. George Saunders impossible-things doe desire I was trained in seismic prospecting. We'd drill a deep hole and put dynamite in the bottom and blow it up remotely, which would give you a cross-sectional picture of the subsurface, which tells you where to drill. George Saunders holes blow giving When somebody you've known for 20 years, and with whom you have a full context, winks at you or whatever, it can be huge. I think in a sense what you're trying to re-create in fiction is that. George Saunders trying years thinking
