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Quote by Will Self

“This is the paradox for me: in failure alone is there any possibility of success. I don't think I'm alone in this - nor do I think it's an attitude that only prevails among people whose work is obviously "creative".”

Quote by Will Self

Author

Will Self is a British author known for his distinctive style and sharp wit. His works span across various genres including novels, non-fiction, short stories, and plays. Born on September 26, 1961, Self's writing often delves into the complexities of modern society and the darker aspects of human nature. more

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“The life of the professional writer - like that of any freelance, whether she be a plumber or a podiatrist - is predicated on willpower. Without it there simply wouldn't be any remuneration, period.”

Periods Willpower Plumber Remuneration

Author:Will Self

“The high arts of literature and music stand in a curious relationship to one another, at once securely comfortable and deeply uneasy - rather like a long-term marriage.”

Long Art Literature Term Comfortable Curious Long Term Uneasy High Art Literature And Music Long Term Marriage

Author:Will Self

“As a species, we're addicted to the facile discrimination involved in saying that something or phenomenon is either 'this' or 'that' - how much more uncomfortable that it may well be 'the other'.”

Wells May Involved Species Discrimination Uncomfortable Phenomenon

Author:Will Self

“There is something mysteriously powerful that can happen when young, inchoate minds come into contact with older and more worldly ones in a spirit of intellectual and creative endeavour - if I believed in progress, I suppose that's what I'd call it.”

Ifs Mind Happens Young Spirit Powerful Creative Progress Intellectual Contact Worldly Endeavour

Author:Will Self

“Lives don't divide up into chapters. People don't just talk, while nothing's going on in their head, and then respond. You know, none of these things actually happen.”

People Knows Happens Divides Chapters

Author:Will Self

“In my view the plangent artificiality of a lot of creative work results from the fact that the people who write novels, direct films and put on plays tend to read too many novels, watch too many films and go to too many plays.”

People Writing Play Facts Film Results Views Watches Novel Creative Direct Creative Work Artificiality

Author:Will Self

“My novels tend to come about from a fusion of two big ideas, creating a critical mass that then fissions, throwing off hundreds of other particles, riffs, tropes and characters.”

Two Ideas Character Bigs Novel Creating Mass Critical Throwing Particles Fusion Big Ideas Tropes Critical Mass Fission

Author:Will Self

“Of course, with well-masticated food playing the role of social glue, it's absolutely essential that everyone clear their plate. Sod the starving kiddies in Africa - it's the overfed ones here we need to worry about.”

Needs Wells Courses Social Roles Worry Clear Essentials Plates Starving Glue Sod

Author:Will Self

“And indeed nothing had happened, a momentous nothing, just another of the great world's shrugs of indifference.”

World Happened Indifference

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“I shall strip away layer after layer of grime -- the toffee-colored varnish and caked soot left by a lifetime of dissembling -- until I come to the very thing itself and know it for what it is. My soul. My self.”

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Author:John Banville