The Peace Corps is a sort of Howard Johnson's on the main drag into maturity. Paul Theroux More Quotes by Paul Theroux More Quotes From Paul Theroux In a way, Che Guevara's fate was far worse than Simon Bolivar's. Guevara's collapse was complete: his intentions were forgotten, but his style was taken up by boutique owners (one of the fanciest clothes stores in London is called Che Guevara). There is no faster way of destroying a man or mocking his ideas than making him fashionable. That Che succeeded in influencing dress-designers was part of his tragedy. Paul Theroux fate taken men The more you write, the more you're capable of writing. Paul Theroux capable writing Going slowly [...] was the best way of being reminded that there is a relationship between Here and There, and that travel narrative was the story of There and Back. Paul Theroux stories memorable travel I am happy being what I am. Paul Theroux Basically, what you find out is the limits of your patience and your strength and your capacity to adapt. You find that out in travel and being alone and being tested. So that's a great thing. Paul Theroux great-things limits capacity Banks and donors and charities claimed to have had successes in Mozambique. I suspected they invented these successes to justify their existence. Paul Theroux mozambique donors charity Hawaii is not a state of mind, but a state of grace. Paul Theroux hawaii grace mind You define a good flight by negatives: you didn't get hijacked, you didn't crash, you didn't throw up, you weren't late, you weren't nauseated by the food. So you are grateful. Paul Theroux grateful funny travel Writing is pretty crummy on the nerves. Paul Theroux nerves writing Most travel, and certainly the rewarding kind, involves depending on the kindness of strangers, putting yourself into the hands of people you don't know and trusting them with your life. Paul Theroux kindness hands travel Travel is only glamorous in retrospect. Paul Theroux retrospect memorable travel It is fatal to know too much at the outcome: boredom comes as quickly to the traveler who knows his route as to the novelist who is over certain of his plot. Paul Theroux boredom novelists hero Reading alters the appearance of a book. Once it has been read, it never looks the same again, and people leave their individual imprint on a book they have read. Once of the pleasures of reading is seeing this alteration on the pages, and the way, by reading it, you have made the book yours. Paul Theroux reading book people He regarded himself as an accomplished writer — a clear sign of madness in anyone. Paul Theroux accomplished clear madness All places, no matter where, no matter what, are worth visiting. Paul Theroux visiting no-matter-what matter "Connected" is the triumphal cry these days. Connection has made people arrogant, impatient, hasty, and presumptuous... I don't doubt that instant communication has been good for business, even for the publishing business, but it has done nothing for literature, and might even have harmed it. In many ways connection has been disastrous. We have confused information (of which there is too much) with ideas (of which there are too few). I found out much more about the world and myself by being unconnected. Paul Theroux confused communication ideas When I was in the Peace Corps I never made a phone call. I was in Central Africa; I didn't make a phone call for two years. I was in Uganda for another four years and I didn't make a phone call. So for six years I didn't make a phone call, but I wrote letters, I wrote short stories, I wrote books. Paul Theroux uganda phones book Unless there is a strong sense of place there is no travel writing, but it need not come from topographical description; dialogue can also convey a sense of place. Even so, I insist, the traveler invents the place. Feeling compelled to comment on my travel books, people say to me, "I went there"---China, India, the Pacific, Albania-- "and it wasn't like that." I say, "Because I am not you. Paul Theroux strong writing book If you're a misanthrope you stay at home. There are certain writers who really don't like other people. I'm not like that, I don't think. Paul Theroux home people thinking I have always disliked being a man. The whole idea of manhood in America is pitiful, in my opinion. This version of masculinity is a little like having to wear an ill-fitting coat for one's entire life (by contrast, I imagine femininity to be an oppressive sense of nakedness). Paul Theroux men america ideas
