Home / Authors / Ian Mcewan

Ian Mcewan

Ian Mcewan Quotes

Novelist

Ian Mcewan is a renowned British novelist known for his unique narrative techniques and profound insights into human nature. His works often explore themes such as moral dilemmas, historical events, and personal identity. Born on June 21, 1948, Mcewan's representative works include 'Atonement', 'Freedom', and 'Amsterdam'.

Filter quotes by topic

All Thinking Moments Ifs People Writing Self Way Littles Novel World Knows Men Might Mind Simple Stories Atonement Believe Children Love

Famous Ian Mcewan Quotes

“None of us really either know the circumstances of our death or are likely to exert as much control over it as we would like to, but we can certainly have a little more say in it if we are terminally ill than we have at the moment. That's the element of dignity, but sure, life is very hard to organise even when you are fit and healthy.”

Ifs Knows Littles Hard Moments Life Is Fit Circumstances Healthy Elements Dignity Ill Over It Terminally Ill

Author:Ian Mcewan

“I apologize for being obvious, but every time I watch the curtain come down on even a halfway decent production of a Shakespeare play I feel a little sorrowful that I'll never know the man, or any man of such warm intelligence.”

Knows Men Feels Littles Play Watches He Man Productions Obvious Warm Decent Apologizing Curtains Halfway I Apologize Sorrowful Shakespeare Play

Author:Ian Mcewan

“Perhaps the greatest reading pleasure has an element of self-annihilation. To be so engrossed that you barely know you exist.”

Knows Self Reading Pleasure Elements Annihilation

Author:Ian Mcewan

“No one knows anything, really. It's all rented, or borrowed.”

Author:Ian Mcewan

“When its gone, you'll know what a gift love was. you'll suffer like this. So go back and fight to keep it.”

Knows Suffering Fighting Chance Gone Lost Love Loved And Lost Love And Lost Love Is Lost

Author:Ian Mcewan

“When we go on about the big things, the political situation, global warming, world poverty, it all looks really terrible, with nothing getting better, nothing to look forward to. But when I think small, closer in - you know, a girl I've just met, or this song we're going to do with Chas, or snowboarding next month, then it looks great. So this is going to be my motto - think small.”

Thinking Knows World Looks Bigs Political Song Girl Next Situation Poverty Months Goes On Terrible Mets Get Better Global Warming Motto Big Things My Motto Snowboarding World Poverty

Author:Ian Mcewan

“No one knew about the squirrel’s skull beneath Briony bed, but no one wanted to know.”

Knows Wanted Bed Skulls Squirrels

Author:Ian Mcewan

“Something has happened, hasn't it? ... It's like being up close to something so large you don't even see it. Even now, I'm not sure I can. But I know it's there.”

Knows I Can Happened Not Sure

Book:Atonement

Source: Atonement

“We know so little about each other. We lie mostly submerged, like ice floes, with our visible social selves projecting only cool and white.”

Knows Littles Self Lying Social White Ice Visible Submerged

Book:Amsterdam, Or, The Spoiler: A Comi-tragedy

Source: Amsterdam, Or, The Spoiler: A Comi-tragedy

“The trouble with being a daydreamer who doesn’t say much is that the teachers at school, especially those who don’t know you very well, are likely to think you’re rather stupid. Or, if not stupid, then dull. No one can see the amazing things that are going on in your head.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Wells School Teacher Trouble Stupid Dull Amazing Things Not Stupid

Author:Ian Mcewan

About the Author

Born: June 21, 1948
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 286

Related Topics

Thinking Moments Ifs People Writing Self Way Littles Novel World Knows Men Might Mind Simple Stories Atonement Believe Children Love

Popular Topics

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

Books & Sources

AtonementRelated source material

Enduring LoveRelated source material

SaturdayRelated source material

Conversations with Ian McEwanRelated source material

Sweet ToothRelated source material

Machines like MeRelated source material

AmsterdamRelated source material

LessonsRelated source material

The Children ActRelated source material

The daydreamerRelated source material

Similar Authors

George SaundersBrowse related quotes
Paul AusterBrowse related quotes
Stephen KingBrowse related quotes
Salman RushdieBrowse related quotes
Joyce Carol OatesBrowse related quotes
David LevithanBrowse related quotes
Neil GaimanBrowse related quotes
Anna QuindlenBrowse related quotes
John IrvingBrowse related quotes
Junot DiazBrowse related quotes