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Lydia Davis

Lydia Davis Quotes

Writer

Lydia Davis is an American writer born on July 15, 1947. Known for her concise and refined style, Davis is renowned for her short story writing. Her works have won numerous literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the MacArthur Genius Grant.

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Famous Lydia Davis Quotes

“I often pose questions to myself and want the answers. The questions may be psychological or emotional. Or they may involve botany or [...] physiology. [...] I am very curious about strangers I observe - as in a bus line. I am very attached to finding out answers.”

Want May Lines Answers Emotional Findings Stranger Psychological Curious Bus Physiology Botany

Author:Lydia Davis

“Heart weeps. Head tries to help heart. Head tells heart how it is, again: You will lose the ones you love. They will all go. But even the earth will go, someday. Heart feels better, then. But the words of head do not remain long in the ears of heart. Heart is so new to this. I want them back, says heart. Head is all heart has. Help, head. Help heart.”

Want Feels Trying Heart Long Helping Earth Loses Ears Someday Feel Better

Book:Varieties of Disturbance: Stories

Source: Varieties of Disturbance: Stories

“Maybe the truth does not matter, but I want to know it if only so that I can come to some conclusions about such questions as: whether he is angry with me or not; if he is, then how angry; whether he still loves me or not; if he does, then how much; whether he loves me or not; how much; how capable he is of deceiving me in the act and after the act in the telling.”

Ifs Knows Want Doe Stills I Can Matter Capable Angry Conclusion Breakup Deceiving

Book:Break It Down: Stories

Source: Break It Down: Stories

“Do what you want to do, and don't worry if it's a little odd or doesn't fit the market.”

Ifs Want Littles Worry Fit What You Want Odd

Author:Lydia Davis

“I started writing the one-sentence stories when I was translating 'Swann's Way.' There were two reasons. I had almost no time to do my own writing, but didn't want to stop. And it was a reaction to Proust's very long sentences.”

Way Want Writing Long Two Reason Stories My Own Sentences Reactions Translate One Sentence Proust

Author:Lydia Davis

About the Author

Born: July 15, 1947
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 67

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Writing Ifs Thinking Way Form May Stories Want Feels Language Long Narrative People Persons Translators Trying Believe Certain Difficult Ends

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Books & Sources

Break It Down: StoriesRelated source material

Can't and Won'tRelated source material

Varieties of Disturbance: StoriesRelated source material

Almost No Memory: StoriesRelated source material

Almost No MemoryRelated source material

Break It DownRelated source material

Essays OneRelated source material

Samuel Johnson Is IndignantRelated source material

Samuel Johnson Is Indignant: StoriesRelated source material

The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis Vol.IRelated source material

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