“How wrong to have been so negative, how wrong to have been so gloomy, how wrong to have run away from life, how wrong to have said no, again and again, instead of yes.” Has BeensSaidRunningNegativeRunning AwayAgain And AgainGloomy Book:The Corrections: A Novel Source: The Corrections: A Novel
“Mr. Franzen said he and Mr. Wallace, over years of letters and conversations about the ethical role of the novelist, had come to the joint conclusion that the purpose of writing fiction was “a way out of loneliness.” (NY Times article on the memorial service of David Foster Wallace.)” WayWritingYearsSaidPurposeFictionRolesLonelinessConversationLettersConclusionNovelistsEthicalArticlesJointsMemorialWriting FictionMemorial ServicePurpose Of Writing Author:Jonathan Franzen
“So, what, you got cigarette burns, too?" Gitanes said. Chip showed his palm, "It's nothing." "Self-inflicted. You pathetic American." "Different kind of prison" Chip said.” KindSaidDifferentSelfPrisonDifferent KindsCigarettePalmsChipsPatheticSelf Inflicted Author:Jonathan Franzen
“Remind me again what's wrong with Dave Matthews?" "Basically everything, except technical proficiency," Walter said. "Right." "But maybe especially the banality of the lyrics. 'Gotta be free, so free, yeah, yeah, yeah. Can't live without my freedom, yeah yeah.' That's pretty much every song.” SaidSongYeahDaveMatthewBanalityProficiencyYeah Yeah Yeahs Book:Freedom: A Novel Source: Freedom: A Novel
“The reason this system can’t be overthrown in this country,” Walter said, “is all about freedom. The reason the free market in Europe is tempered by socialism is that they’re not so hung up on personal liberties there. They also have lower population growth rates, despite comparable income levels. The Europans are all-around more rational, basically. And the conversation about rights in this country isn’t rational. It’s taking place on the level of emotion, and class resentments, which is why the right is so good at exploiting it.” SaidCountryReasonGrowthLevelsEmotionLibertyClassRightsConversationEuropeRatePopulationIncomeSocialismRationalDespiteResentmentHungFree MarketPopulation GrowthPersonal Liberty Author:Jonathan Franzen
“You could slap his wrist for saying it, but then he said it with his face, and you could spank him for making faces, but then he said it with his eyes, and there were limits to correction-no way, in the end, to penetrate behind the blue irises and eradicate a boy's disgust.” WaySaidEndsEyeFacesBehindsBoysLimitsBlueHis EyesDisgustingPenetrateSlapCorrectionsWristsIrises Book:The Corrections: A Novel Source: The Corrections: A Novel
“I look at my father, who was in many ways an unhappy person, but who, not long before he got sick, said that the greatest source of satisfaction in his life had been going to work in the company of other workers.” WayLooksPersonsLongSaidFatherCompanySourceSickWorkersSatisfactionUnhappyGoing To WorkHappy PersonUnhappy Person Author:Jonathan Franzen
