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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

“Write every day, just to keep in the habit, and remember that whatever you have written is neither as good nor as bad as you think it is. Just keep going, and tell yourself that you will fix it later.”

Thinking Writing Remember Written Habit Keep Going

Author:Jane Smiley

“I had spent years thinking about one thing while I was doing another. I had, in fact, prided myself on being able to do two things at once.”

Thinking Years Two Facts Able One Thing Two Things

Author:Jane Smiley

“everything is toxic. That's the point. You can't avoid toxins. Thinking you can is just another symptom of the toxic overload stage.”

Thinking Stage Toxic Pollution Symptoms Overload Toxins

Book:A Thousand Acres: A Novel

Source: A Thousand Acres: A Novel

“Critical thinking is to a liberal education as faith is to religion. ... the converse was true also - faith is to a liberal education as critical thinking is to religion, irrelevant and even damaging.”

Thinking Critical Irrelevant Critical Thinking Converses Liberal Education

Book:Moo

Source: Moo

“Somehow, knowing that Alzheimer's is coming mocks all one's aspirations - to tell stories, to think through certain issues as only a novel can do, to be recognised for one's accomplishments and hard work - in a way that old familiar death does not.”

Thinking Way Doe Hard Stories Certain Can Do Novel Knowing Issues Hard Work Familiar Accomplishment Aspiration Alzheimer Alzheimer's

Author:Jane Smiley

“I think that the Cold War was an exceptional and unnecessary piece of cruelty.”

Thinking War Pieces Cold Cruelty Unnecessary Cold War Exceptional

Author:Jane Smiley

“Is human nature basically good or evil? No economist can embark upon his profession without considering this question, and yet they all seem to. And they all seem to think human nature is basically good, or they wouldn't be surprised by the effects of deregulation.”

Thinking Humans Seems Evil Effects Human Nature Profession Considering Economist Deregulation

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

“Giving his lecture for the third time freed Dr. Lionel Gift from paying much attention to it. He had a naturally expressive style of delivery, hones over the years in elementary-econ lecture halls. He knew, without even thinking, to address the middle rows of the hall, but to occasionally "shoot" the listeners in the back corners. He knew how to make eye contact and solicit the attention of those who were thinking of other things.”

Thinking Giving Years Eye Attention Teaching Middle Style Thirds Corners Contact Addresses Halls Listeners Drs Lectures Delivery Expressive Eye Contact Third Time Thinking Of Others

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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Popular 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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