“So the recordings were these immersive landscapes, and yet, unlike the performances that almost no one would see, I had a sense that these could live forever. I was just starting to get my head around the democratic aspect of art; I didn't want to make rarefied things that were either alienatingly obscure or elite and art-worldy, so a recording that anyone could buy was a great medium.” WantArtForeverAspectPerformancesDemocraticStartingMediumsLandscapeElitesObscureLive Forever Author:Miranda July
“Collections are certainly abundant online. It's complicated, because it's not like these people didn't want computers, although there was some nonchalance about it. I would sometimes ask the people I interviewed if they wished they had a computer, and in a lot of cases, it was like they couldn't process the question. You don't know what you don't have, I guess.” PeopleIfsKnowsWantSometimesAsksProcessCasesComputerComplicatedCollectionsOnlineNonchalance Author:Miranda July
“If you want to have a character who falls into crisis, all you have to do is turn the Internet off, and then we all understand how that feels, when you suddenly just have time and yourself.” IfsWantFeelsCharacterTurnsFallInternetCrisis Author:Miranda July
“Are you angry? Punch a pillow. Was it satisfying? Not hardly. These days people are too angry for punching. What you might try is stabbing. Take an old pillow and lay it on the front lawn. Stab it with a big pointy knife. Again and again and again. Stab hard enough for the point of the knife to go into the ground. Stab until the pillow is gone and you are just stabbing the earth again and again, as if you want to kill it for continuing to spin, as if you are getting revenge for having to live on this planet day after day, alone.” PeopleIfsWantTryingHardEnoughBigsMightEarthGoneFrontsPlanetsAngryLaysRevengeThese DaysSatisfyingKnivesAgain And AgainContinuingPillowLawnsPunchingStabbingGetting Revenge Author:Miranda July
“Some may say that such a girl is not ready for a relationship with a man, especially a man in his late sixties. But to that I say: We don't know anything. We don't know how to cure a cold or what dogs are thinking. We do terrible things, we make wars, we kill people out of greed. So who are we to say how to love. I wouldn't force her. I wouldn't have to. She would want me. We would be in love. What do you know. You don't know anything. Call me when you've cured AIDS, give me a ring then and I'll listen.” PeopleThinkingKnowsMenWantGivingMayWarWould BeGirlForceKnow HowDogReadyColdTerribleLateGive MeGreedAidsRingsCuresCall MeDo You KnowWant MeSixtyTerrible ThingsNot ReadyHow To Love Book:No One Belongs Here More Than You: Stories Source: No One Belongs Here More Than You: Stories
“This person realizes that staying home means blowing off everyone this person has ever known. But the desire to stay in is very strong. This person wants to run a bath and then read in bed.” WantMeanPersonsHomeRunningDesireStrongRealizingKnownBedStayingVery StrongBaths Book:No One Belongs Here More Than You: Stories Source: No One Belongs Here More Than You: Stories
“If you are sad, ask yourself why you are sad. Then pick up the phone and call someone and tell him the answer to the question. If you don't know anyone, call the operator and tell him. Most people don't know that the operator has to listen, it is a law. Also, the postman is not allowed to go inside your house, but you can talk to him on public property for up to four minutes or until he wants to go, whichever comes first.” PeopleIfsKnowsWantFirstsLawAsksHouseAnswersFourMinutesPicksPropertyPhonesOperatorsPostman Author:Miranda July
“All I ever really want to know is how other people are making it through life—where do they put their body, hour by hour, and how do they cope inside of it.” PeopleKnowsWantBodyHours Book:It Chooses You Source: It Chooses You
“I didn't have any vices before the Internet. There are a lot of cracks in the day, moments where you don't know what to do next, so you have a little hole where you look at your phone. You want something that will mean you're not alone in that moment.” KnowsWantLooksMeanLittlesMomentsNextInternetPhonesVicesHolesThat MomentCracksWant SomethingNot Alone Author:Miranda July
“When I write, I wear earplugs. I don't want to be self-conscious. I don't want to be thinking about the fact that I'm thinking about it. I just want to be in it. It's one element of hypnosis.” ThinkingWantWritingSelfFactsElementsConsciousSelf ConsciousHypnosis Author:Miranda July
