“I wanted the chance to look again at very famous stories and see what made them work well, whether there were any ways in which they could be improved. Because the great thing about fairy tales and folk tales is that there is no authentic text.” WayWellsLooksMadeStoriesWantedChanceFolksTalesGreat ThingsFairyFairy TaleVery Famous Author:Philip Pullman
“The crucifixion saved him [Jesus]. He never had to deal with the fact that the kingdom of God wasn't ever going to come. His disciples, of course, had to deal with it, and little by little they had to realize that it's a metaphorical thing. Well, that's not what Jesus meant. I'm fairly sure he meant it literally. But he must have been the most fascinating man.” MenWellsLittlesHas BeensFactsCoursesJesusRealizingDealsSavedKingdomsFascinatingDiscipleKingdom Of GodCrucifixionMetaphorical Author:Philip Pullman
“Well, I have an idea, usually a visual image of some sort. A setting. A particular, I don't know, urban scene, a particular time of day. Something that grips my imagination for some reason.” KnowsWellsIdeasReasonImaginationParticularSceneSettingSettingsVisualsUrbanMy ImaginationTime Of DayVisual Images Author:Philip Pullman
“A professional writer is someone who writes just as well when they're not inspired as when they are.” WritingWellsInspired Author:Philip Pullman
“One curious thing about growing up is that you don't only move forward in time; you move backwards as well, as pieces of your parents' and grandparents' lives come to you.” WellsMovingParentGrowing UpPiecesGrowingMoving ForwardCuriousBackwardsGrandparentKeep Moving ForwardParents And GrandparentsGrandparents Day Author:Philip Pullman
“I told him I was going to betray you, and betray Lyra, and he believed me because I was corrupt and full of wickedness; he looked so deep I felt sure he'd see the truth. But I lied too well. I was lying with every nerve and fiber and everything I'd ever done...I wanted him to find no good in me, and he didn't. There is none.” WellsDoneTruthWantedLyingFeltNervesBetrayWickednessLiedFiber Book:The Amber Spyglass Source: The Amber Spyglass
“I think it's perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don't know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away. Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it's because he's ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they're responsible for promoting in his name. If I were him, I'd want nothing to do with them.” IfsThinkingKnowsWantWellsMayReligionUniverseNamesIgnoranceSightResponsibleCrueltyAshamedHidingFollowersPromoting Author:Philip Pullman
“Tell them stories. They need the truth you must tell them true stories, and everything will be well, just tell them stories.” NeedsWellsStoriesTrue Story Book:The Amber Spyglass Source: The Amber Spyglass
“But suppose your dæmon settles in a shape you don't like? Well, then, you're discontented, en't you? There's plenty of folk as'd like to have a lion as a dæmon and they end up with a poodle. And till they learn to be satisfied with what they are, they're going to be fretful about it. Waste of feeling, that is. But it didn't seem to Lyra that she would ever grow up.” WellsEndsFeelingsSeemsGrowsGrowing UpShapesWasteFolksSatisfiedPlentySettlingLionsPoodles Book:His Dark Materials: The Complete Trilogy Source: His Dark Materials: The Complete Trilogy
“I have maintained a passionate interest in education, which leads me occasionally to make foolish and ill-considered remarks alleging that not everything is well in our schools. My main concern is that an over-emphasis on testing and league tables has led to a lack of time and freedom for a true, imaginative and humane engagement with literature.” WellsSchoolLiteratureInterestConcernTablesIllPassionateFoolishLeagueEngagementEmphasisTestingImaginativeRemarksHumaneLeading MeLack Of Time Author:Philip Pullman
