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Jane Smiley Quotes

Novelist

Jane Smiley is an accomplished American novelist known for her profound character development and rich imagination. Her works span a variety of literary genres, including historical fiction, contemporary life, and children's literature. Her novels, such as 'A Thousand Acres' and 'Bluebird', have received widespread acclaim.

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Famous Jane Smiley Quotes

“Mom was a smoker. My grandfather was a smoker. My aunts were smokers. My uncles were smokers. I don't know any smokers now, not even my mom.”

Knows Mom My Mom Grandfather Uncles Aunt My Grandfather Smokers

Author:Jane Smiley

“With any novel that you begin, you can't foresee how difficult or easy it's going to be, and you can't really prepare yourself. You just have a take it one step at a time and know that it's all right to keep going - you can always fix it.”

Knows Easy Difficult Steps Novel Keep Going One Step At A Time

Author:Jane Smiley

“How will you know a good farmer when you meet him? He will not ask you for any favors.”

Knows Asks Favors Farmers Farming

Book:A Thousand Acres: A Novel

Source: A Thousand Acres: A Novel

“you know that the urge for revenge is a fact of marital life.”

Knows Facts Revenge Urges

Book:Ordinary Love and Good Will

Source: Ordinary Love and Good Will

“A novelist is on the cusp between someone who knows everything and someone who knows nothing.”

Knows Novelists Cusp

Book:13 Ways of Looking at the Novel

Source: 13 Ways of Looking at the Novel

“I don't know - is everything the U.S. does a shocking embarrassment?”

Knows Doe Shocking Embarrassment

Author:Jane Smiley

“You know what getting married is? It's agreeing to taking this person who right now is at the top of his form, full of hopes and ideas, feeling good, looking good, wildly interested in you because you're the same way, and sticking by him while he slowly disintegrates. And he does the same for you. You're his responsibility now and he's yours. If no one else will take care of him, you will. If everyone else rejects you, he won't. What do you think love is? Going to bed all the time?”

Ifs Thinking Knows Way Love Persons Doe Ideas Feelings Care Form Love Is Responsibility Marriage Right Now Bed Married Take Care Feel Good Rejects Looking Good Getting Married Rejects You

Author:Jane Smiley

“I say, when your hair turns gray and your children think they know who you are, do the thing that shakes up who you think you are, even who you had prided yourself on being. When all those around you say they simply don't recognize you any longer, that's the real compliment.”

Thinking Knows Children Real Turns Hair Our Children Who You Are Your Children Shakes Conformity Gray Compliment Non Conformity

Author:Jane Smiley

About the Author

Born: September 26, 1949
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 153

Related Topics

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Books & Sources

13 Ways of Looking at the NovelRelated source material

MooRelated source material

The GreenlandersRelated source material

A Thousand Acres: A NovelRelated source material

A Thousand AcresRelated source material

A Year at the Races: Reflections on Horses, Humans, Love, Money and LuckRelated source material

Ordinary Love and Good WillRelated source material

Thirteen Ways of Looking at the NovelRelated source material

Duplicate KeysRelated source material

Private LifeRelated source material

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