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Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien Quotes

Novelist

Tim O'Brien is an American novelist born on October 1, 1946. His works, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, explore themes of war and memory through personal experiences and fictional narratives. O'Brien's writing style is unique, utilizing nonlinear storytelling and metafictional techniques.

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Famous Tim O'Brien Quotes

“I suppose if we gain anything from this unsought experience it will be an appreciation for honesty- frankness on the part of our politicians, our friends, our loves, ourselves. No more liars in public places. (And the bed and the bar are, in their way, as public as the floor of Congress.)”

War Lying Politics Honesty

Book:If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home

Source: If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home

“If a story seems moral, do not believe it. If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie.”

Ifs Feels Believe Has Beens Made War Ends Stories Seems Lying Bits Moral Terrible Waste Victim War Stories Rectitude

Book:The Things They Carried

Source: The Things They Carried

“A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.”

May Happens Truth Lying

Book:The Things They Carried

Source: The Things They Carried

“Fiction is the lie that helps us understand the truth.”

Helping Lying Fiction

Author:Tim O'Brien

“A lie, sometimes, can be truer than the truth, which is why fiction gets written.”

Sometimes Lying Fiction Written

Author:Tim O'Brien

“It wasn't a question of deceit. Just the opposite; he wanted to heat up the truth, to make it burn so hot that you would feel exactly what he felt.”

Feels Wanted Lying Felt Opposites Hot Heat Deceit

Book:The Things They Carried

Source: The Things They Carried

“You can tell a true war story by the questions you ask. Somebody tells a story, let's say, and afterward you ask, 'Is it true?' and if the answer matters, you've got your answer . . . Absolute occurrence is irrelevant. A thing may happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth.”

Ifs May War Matter Stories Happens Lying Asks Answers Absolutes Irrelevant War Stories

Author:Tim O'Brien

About the Author

Born: October 1, 1946
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 133

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Stories War Feels War Stories Way Knows Felt Fiction Humans Lying Memories Thinking Tim O Brien World Hard Men The Things They Carried Wanted Writing Years

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Books & Sources

The Things They CarriedRelated source material

In the Lake of the WoodsRelated source material

The Things They Carried: A Work of FictionRelated source material

Going After CacciatoRelated source material

If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me HomeRelated source material

Tomcat in LoveRelated source material

If I Die in a Combat Zone: Box Me Up and Ship Me HomeRelated source material

Dad's Maybe BookRelated source material

Northern lightsRelated source material

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