The courage of children and beasts is a function of innocence. Annie Dillard More Quotes by Annie Dillard More Quotes From Annie Dillard I think the dying pray at the last not "please," but "thank you," as a guest thanks his host at the door. Annie Dillard gratitude doors thinking On plenty of days the writer can write three or four pages, and on plenty of other days he concludes he must throw them away. Annie Dillard four three writing You can, in short, lead the life of the mind, which is, despite some appalling frustrations, the happiest life on earth. And one day, in the thick of this, approaching some partial vision, you will (I swear) find yourself on the receiving end of - of all things - an "idea for a story," and you will, God save you, start thinking about writing some fiction of your own. Then you will understand, in what I fancy might be a blinding flash, that all this passionate thinking is what fiction is about, that all those other fiction writers started as you did, and are laborers in the same vineyard. Annie Dillard frustration writing thinking When you open a book,” the sentimental library posters said, “anything can happen.” This was so. A book of fiction was a bomb. It was a land mine you wanted to go off. You wanted it to blow your whole day. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of books were duds. They had been rusting out of everyone’s way for so long that they no longer worked. There was no way to distinguish the duds from the live mines except to throw yourself at them headlong, one by one. Annie Dillard land blow book Love so sprang at her, she honestly thought no one had ever looked into it. Where was it in literature? Someone would have written something. She must not have recognized it. Time to read everything again. Annie Dillard honestly written literature There is no such thing as an artist: there is only the world lit or unlit as the light allows. When the candle is burning, who looks at the wick? When the candle is out, who needs it? Annie Dillard light artist needs The world did not have me in mind; it had no mind. It was a coincidental collection of things and people, of items, an I myself was one such item...the things in the world did not necessarily cause my overwhelming feelings; the feelings were inside me, beneath my skin, behind my ribs, withing my skull. They were even, to some extent, under my control. Annie Dillard skulls feelings people I had good innings, as the British say. I wrote for 38 years at the top of my form, and I wanted to quit on a high note. Annie Dillard quitting form years I write in my own journal when something extraordinary or funny happens. And there's some nice imagery in there. I don't think of what to do with it. Annie Dillard nice writing thinking The creative process obtains in all creative acts. So if I'm painting suddenly I'll see something that I didn't see before. Annie Dillard painting creative process People who take photographs during their whole vacation won't remember their vacation. They'll only remember what photographs they took. Annie Dillard vacation remember people Old memories are very easy to get except that once you write about something you've destroyed it. Annie Dillard easy writing memories Don't save something good for a later place. Don't hold back from your students, from the poor, don't try to keep anything for yourself 'cause it'll turn to ashes. Annie Dillard ashes causes trying Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.' Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?' Annie Dillard me you hell god There is no such thing as an artist - only the world, lit or unlit, as the world allows. Annie Dillard only lit artist world How can people think that artists seek a name? There is no such thing as an artist - only the world, lit or unlit, as the world allows. Annie Dillard name think people world The notion of the infinite variety of detail and the multiplicity of forms is a pleasing one; in complexity are the fringes of beauty, and in variety are generosity and exuberance. Annie Dillard detail generosity infinite beauty
