When demagogues and dictators ban art, this is the reason: art is the great solvent of obedient fundamentalism. Howard Jacobson More Quotes by Howard Jacobson More Quotes From Howard Jacobson How do you explain to somebody who doesn't understand that you don't build a library to read. A library is a resource. Something you go to, for reference, as and when. But also something you simply look at, because it gives you succour, answers to some idea of who you are or, more to the point, who you would like to be, who you will be once you own every book you need to own. Howard Jacobson giving book ideas How do you go on knowing that you will never again - not ever, ever - see the person you have loved? How do you survive a single hour, a single minute, a single second of that knowledge? How do you hold yourself together? Howard Jacobson knowing goes-on together A novelist should make you realize nothing is stable. If you don't believe anything with robustness, you're doing something more radical than anything else. Howard Jacobson realizing novelists believe The girls pick snouts from the pack as though they're chocolates and it matters which they select. Howard Jacobson chocolate girl smoking I could use the company but I can't go through the pain of getting it. Howard Jacobson company pain use The perfect bacon sandwich is on white bread, very soft and very thick. Sourdough with a good crust. The bacon is half way to being crispy - and there's lots of it - and enough brown sauce to trickle down your arm. You've not really enjoyed a bacon sandwich unless 10 minutes later you're still licking your wrists. Howard Jacobson arms white perfect What it is to see, what liberties are taken when one looks, where looking leaves one vis-a-vis one's subject, or how far looking ultimately becomes one's subject - these are important questions. Howard Jacobson liberty important taken Marriage is like a barbecue. When you light a barbecue, it's very exciting to see the flames. That's lovely, but you have to wait until the flames have died down. Everything that you want from a barbecue happens on the hot embers. You can't cook on those flames. Howard Jacobson flames light waiting I'm a Jewish Jane Austen. Howard Jacobson jane austen Although I was too young to understand the theory of universal (that's to say male) guilt, I was old enough to know which sex suffered migraine and which sex caused it. Howard Jacobson males guilt sex I took the route favoured by all worldly failures and became a spiritual success. Howard Jacobson spiritual-success routes spiritual All those words of praise they use for novels - spare, economical. Why should I shell out £17 for economical? Howard Jacobson shells use praise In the matrimonial life of the Jewish male every day is Yom Kippur. Howard Jacobson yom-kippur males It's never over till it's over with a friend. Howard Jacobson I am happiest now. There's nothing like running out of time to make you realise you're in the right skin, with the right person, and that the Apocalypse will happen with or without you. Howard Jacobson i-am you right-person time Imagine the anticlimax of opening a novel you'd just got Dostoyevsky to sign and finding 'Keep smiling - Fyodor.' Howard Jacobson smiling finding you keep-smiling Rejection is the one constant of human experience. Howard Jacobson human constant rejection experience No traveller ever sets out with so little idea of where he is going or how he is going to get there than an artist does. And no traveller ever gets to a more wonderful place. Howard Jacobson more how place artist To be clear, I abhor the separation wall. It is an eyesore in itself and makes tangible the failed diplomacy and cruel short-sightedness that causes such misery in the region. No Palestinian can see that wall and not wonder if the Israelis mean it to stay there forever, a constant reminder of what they never intend to change. Howard Jacobson never see change wonder If you want a good life, don't succeed at anything too early or too well. And don't choose a profession that attracts money or attention. The minute people want to see you doing what you do, you're finished. Howard Jacobson good you money life
