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Sherwood Anderson

Sherwood Anderson Quotes

Novelist

American novelist known for his profound insights into the lives of the American middle class. Anderson's works often focus on the inner world and social status of ordinary people, and his style is concise and direct, which has had a profound impact on American literature.

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All Men People Knows Littles Thinking Writing Ifs Art Life Mean World Long Made Moments Tree Trying Want Apples Father Feels

Famous Sherwood Anderson Quotes

“Learn to draw. Try to make your hand so unconsciously adept that it will put down what you feel without your having to think of your hands. Then you can think of the thing before you.”

Thinking Feels Trying Hands Draws Drawing Think Of You Adept

Book:The Portable Sherwood Anderson

Source: The Portable Sherwood Anderson

“Draw, draw, hundreds of drawings. Try to remain humble. Smartness kills everything.”

Trying Draws Humble Drawing Smartness

Book:The Portable Sherwood Anderson

Source: The Portable Sherwood Anderson

“There is a note that comes into the human voice by which you may know real weariness. It comes when one has been trying with all his heart and soul to think his way along some difficult road of thought. Of a sudden he finds himself unable to go on. Something within him stops. A tiny explosion takes place. He bursts into words and talks, perhaps foolishly. Little side currents of his nature he didn't know were there run out and get themselves expressed. It is at such times that a man boasts, uses big words, makes a fool of himself in general.”

Source: Triumph of the Egg and Other Stories

“You can make it all right if you will only be satisfied to remain small," I told myself. I had to keep saying it over and over to myself. "Be little. Don't try to be big. Work under the guns. Be a little worm in the fair apple of life.”

Ifs Trying Littles Bigs Gun Fairs Satisfied Apples Worms

Book:Sherwood Anderson's memoirs: a critical edition

Source: Sherwood Anderson's memoirs: a critical edition

“You must try to forget all you have learned,” said the old man. “You must begin to dream. From this time on you must shut your ears to the roaring of the voices.”

Men Trying Said Dream Voice Forget Ears Old Man Roaring

Book:Winesburg, Ohio

Source: Winesburg, Ohio

“Love is like a wind stirring the grass beneath trees on a black night,' he had said. 'You must not try to make love definite. It is the divine accident of life. If you try to be definite and sure about it and to live beneath the trees, where soft night winds blow, the long hot day of disappointment comes swiftly and the gritty dust from passing wagons gathers upon lips inflamed and made tender by kisses.”

Source: Winesburg, Ohio