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To any writer: Teach yourself to work in uncertainty. Many writers are anxious when they begin, or try something new.

Bernard Malamud

I work with language. I love the flowers of afterthought.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Afterthought Flower Language
We didn’t starve but nobody ate chicken unless we were sick or the chicken was.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Poor Poverty Sick
Writing is a mode of being. If I write I live.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Boring Live Mode Writing
A man had to learn, it was his nature.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Learning Men Nature
The purpose of freedom is to create it for others.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Freedom Others Purpose
Comedy, I imagine, is harder to do consistently than tragedy, but I like it spiced in the wine of sadness.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Sadness Tragedy Wine
All men are Jews, though few men know it.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Jew Knows Men
The wild begins where you least expect it, one step off your normal course
BERNARD MALAMUD

Course Normal Steps
I sometimes confuse myself with the little I know.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Knowledge Littles Sometime
As long as a man stays alive he can’t tell what chances will pop up next. But a dead man signs no checks.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Long Men Perseverance
One often feels helpless in the face of the confusion of these times, such a mass of apparently uncontrollable events and experiences to live through, attempt to understand.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Apparteally Attempt Confusion Experience Time Uncontrolled
Children were strangers you loved because you could love. If they gave back love when they were grown you were ahead of the game.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Back Children Games Love
And if at all possible, give order to; but one must not withdraw from the task if he has some small things to offer – he does so at the risk of diminishing his humanity.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Diminishing Humanity Small Some Withdraw
If the stories come, you get them written, you’re on the right track. Eventually everyone learns his or her own best way. The real mystery to crack is you.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Cracks Eventually Mystery Real Track
I love metaphor. It provides two loaves where there seems to be one. Sometimes it throws in a load of fish.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Metaphor Sometimes Two
You write by sitting down and writing. There’s no particular time or place—you suit yourself, your nature.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Down Sitting Writing

To any writer: Teach yourself to work in uncertainty. Many writers are anxious when they begin, or try something new.

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To any writer: Teach yourself to work in uncertainty. Many writers are anxious when they begin, or try something new.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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