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Katherine Anne Porter

Katherine Anne Porter Quotes

Journalist

American journalist, novelist, and essayist, known for her profound psychological portraits and unique narrative style. Porter, born in Texas, often explored the relationship between individuals and society, as well as themes of morality and religion in her works. Her notable works include 'The Ship of Fools' and 'The Gate of Heaven'.

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All Humans People Ifs Knows World Writing Believe Men Art Giving Thinking Want Children Death Has Beens Needs Stories Artist Firsts Hands

Famous Katherine Anne Porter Quotes

“Civilization, let me tell you what it is. First the soldier, then the merchant, then the priest, then the lawyer. The merchant hires the soldier and priest to conquer the country for him. First the soldier, he is a murderer; then the priest, he is a liar; then the merchant, he is a thief; and they all bring in the lawyer to make their laws and defend their deeds, and there you have your civilization!”

Firsts Country Law Civilization Let Me Soldier Deeds Lawyer Conquer Priests Liars Thieves Murderer Merchants

Book:Ship of Fools: A Novel

Source: Ship of Fools: A Novel

“Life comes first, an art not rooted in human experience is not worth a damn, but different kinds of minds have different kinds of experience, and all I ask of any man is validity; and there should be place for every type and kind of mind.”

Men Should Mind Firsts Humans Kind Art Different Asks Type Experience Damn Different Kinds Rooted Human Experience Validity

Book:Letters of Katherine Anne Porter

Source: Letters of Katherine Anne Porter

“First impressions are often signals from the deep that we should credit oftener than we do.”

Should Firsts Credit Impression Signals First Impression

Book:Letters of Katherine Anne Porter

Source: Letters of Katherine Anne Porter

“There have been many times when I have been so entirely sickened of life it was very hard to work to keep on, a half dozen times I have been tempted to suicide, but I am glad I did not give way, for I have always felt that the last half of my life would somehow atone for the first half, and I still think it may ... It is not possible to live in this world without suffering unless one is a born stone. But it is also possible to have a great deal of happiness in spite of the suffering.”

Thinking World Way Giving Firsts May Has Beens Stills Hard Lasts Suffering Felt Born Deals Half This World Stones Suicide Glad Spite Dozen Tempted

Book:Letters of Katherine Anne Porter

Source: Letters of Katherine Anne Porter

“If I didn't know the ending of a story, I wouldn't begin. I always write my last lines, my last paragraph first, and then I go back and work towards it. I know where I'm going. I know what my goal is. And how I get there is God's grace.”

Ifs Knows Writing Firsts Stories Lasts Goal Lines Grace Paragraph God's Grace

Book:Katherine Anne Porter: Conversations

Source: Katherine Anne Porter: Conversations

About the Author

Born: May 15, 1890
Died: September 18, 1980
Known for: Journalist
Quotes: 134

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Humans People Ifs Knows World Writing Believe Men Art Giving Thinking Want Children Death Has Beens Needs Stories Artist Firsts Hands

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Books & Sources

Katherine Anne Porter: Collected Stories & Other WritingsRelated source material

Katherine Anne Porter: ConversationsRelated source material

Letters of Katherine Anne PorterRelated source material

Ship of Fools: A NovelRelated source material

Collected stories and other writingsRelated source material

Flowering Judas and Other Stories: A Library of America eBook ClassicRelated source material

Pale Horse, Pale RiderRelated source material

Pale Horse, Pale Rider: Three Short Novels: A Library of America eBook ClassicRelated source material

Ship of FoolsRelated source material

The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne PorterRelated source material

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