What all great teachers appear to have in common is love of their subject, an obvious satisfaction in rousing this love in their students, and an ability to convince them that what they are being taught is deadly serious Joseph Epstein More Quotes by Joseph Epstein More Quotes From Joseph Epstein I know how many days in which I have just answered e-mail, had three phone calls and a two hour lunch. Poof, gone. They are not infrequent. Joseph Epstein lunch phones two I am the heterosexual Truman Capote. Joseph Epstein truman No one has really ever defined what a friend is. Joseph Epstein defined The pleasure of jogging and running is rather like that of wearing a fur coat in Texas in August: the true joy comes in being able to take the damn thing off. Joseph Epstein true-joy texas running One of the pleasures of being a Jew, I don't have to tell you, it allows you anti-Semitism. Joseph Epstein jew pleasure anti-semitism I am basically a complainer and all the grounds for complaint have been swept out from under me. Joseph Epstein complainers complaints has-beens The reason 'closure' is a cliche is that it is used too often, too imprecisely, and doesn't in any case reflect reality. In reality, such closure in broken friendships and much else in life is rarely achieved; only death brings closure and then not always for those still living. Joseph Epstein broken life-is reality We who are quotatious are never truly alone, but always hear the cheerful flow of remarks made by dead writers so much more intelligent than we. Joseph Epstein cheerful intelligent flow Food has it over sex for variety. Hedonistically, gustatory possibilities are much broader than copulatory ones. Joseph Epstein possibility variety sex By the way, the secret of speaking French is confidence. Whether you are right or wrong, you don't hesitate. Joseph Epstein speaking-french secret way I have myself always been terrified of plagiarism - of being accused of it, that is. Every writer is a thief, though some of us are more clever than others at disguising our robberies. The reason writers are such slow readers is that we are ceaselessly searching for things we can steal and then pass off as our own: a natty bit of syntax, a seamless transition, a metaphor that jumps to its target like an arrow shot from an aluminum crossbow. Joseph Epstein arrows clever writing I am married to someone I love. Joseph Epstein married I am not merely a habitual quoter but an incorrigible one. I am, I may as well face it, more quotatious than an old stock-market ticker-tape machine, except that you can't unplug me. Joseph Epstein tape machines may I know how deeply slothful I am. Joseph Epstein know-how sloth knows We know the ideal isn't where the action is. Joseph Epstein ideal where know action
