Home / Authors / Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead Quotes

Novelist

Colson Whitehead is an American novelist known for his distinctive literary style and profound insights into historical themes. His works cover a range of topics from slavery to modern urban life, with his 'New York Trilogy' and 'The Underground Railroad' being particularly notable.

Filter quotes by topic

All People African Americans Book Thinking Writing Slavery Racism Blacks World America Ideas Life Race Relations Trying Cities Different Freedom Ifs Knows New York

Famous Colson Whitehead Quotes

“Step back and the world is a classroom if need be.”

World Life Education Learning

Book:Harlem Shuffle

Source: Harlem Shuffle

“I write the books that I'm compelled to and I definitely learn things about the world when I write them, and I hope that other people get something out of them, enjoy them, see the world differently when they're done.”

People World Writing Book Done Enjoy Compelled

Author:Colson Whitehead

“As time went on, we learned to arm ourselves in our different ways. Some of us with real guns, some of us with more ephemeral weapons, an idea or improbable plan or some sort of formulation about how best to move through the world. An idea that will let us be. Protect us and keep us safe. But a weapon nonetheless.”

World Way Ideas Different Real Moving Plans Arms Protect Safe Weapons Gun Different Ways Ephemeral Improbable

Author:Colson Whitehead

“Isn't it great when you're a kid and the world is full of anonymous things? Everything is bright and mysterious until you know what it is called and then all the light goes out of it...Once we knew the name of it, how could we ever come to love it?...For things had true natures, and they hid behind false names, beneath the skin we gave them.”

Knows World Light Kids Names Behinds Skins Mysterious True Nature

Author:Colson Whitehead

“Best to let the broken glass be broken glass, let it splinter into smaller pieces and dust and scatter. Let the cracks between things widen until they are no longer cracks but the new places for things. That was where they were now. The world wasn't ending: it had ended and now they were in the new place. They could not recognize it because they had never seen it before.”

World Pieces Broken Glasses Dust Cracks New Places Splinters Broken Glass

Book:Zone One

Source: Zone One

“Talking about New York is a way of talking about the world.”

World Way Talking New York Way Of Talking

Book:The Colossus of New York

Source: The Colossus of New York

“Most people say, "Show, don't tell," but I stand by Show and Tell, because when writers put their work out into the world, they're like kids bringing their broken unicorns and chewed-up teddy bears into class in the sad hope that someone else will love them as much as they do.”

People World Writing Shows Kids Class Broken Bears Work Out Unicorn Teddy Teddy Bear

Author:Colson Whitehead

About the Author

Born: November 6, 1969
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 154

Related Topics

People African Americans Book Thinking Writing Slavery Racism Blacks World America Ideas Life Race Relations Trying Cities Different Freedom Ifs Knows New York

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The Underground RailroadRelated source material

The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky, and DeathRelated source material

Harlem ShuffleRelated source material

Crook ManifestoRelated source material

The Nickel BoysRelated source material

The Colossus of New YorkRelated source material

The IntuitionistRelated source material

Apex Hides the HurtRelated source material

The Intuitionist: A NovelRelated source material

Zone OneRelated source material

Similar Authors

Paul AusterBrowse related quotes
Joyce Carol OatesBrowse related quotes
Salman RushdieBrowse related quotes
Judy BlumeBrowse related quotes
Stephen KingBrowse related quotes
Fran LebowitzBrowse related quotes
George SaundersBrowse related quotes
Chuck KlostermanBrowse related quotes
Neil GaimanBrowse related quotes
Junot DiazBrowse related quotes