black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

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

Bernard Malamud

We have two lives, the life we learn with and the life we live with after that. Suffering is what brings us toward happiness.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Life Live Suffering Two
The wild begins where you least expect it, one step off your normal course
BERNARD MALAMUD

Course Normal Steps
Prufrock had measured out his life with measuring spoons; Dubin, in books resurrecting the lives of others.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Book Inspire Life Resurrecting
You can’t eat language but it eases thirst.
BERNARD MALAMUD

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

Character Discipline Writing
When I don’t feel hurt, I hope they bury me.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Bury Feels Hope Hurt
Charity you can give even when you haven’t got.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Charity Giving Havens
First drafts are for learning what your story is about.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Draft Firsts Learn Stories
If your train’s on the wrong track every station you come to is the wrong station.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Stations Track Train
You see in others who you are.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Identity Who You Are
Somewhere I put it this way: first drafts are for learning what one’s fiction wants him to say. Revision works with that knowledge to enlarge and enhance an idea, to reform it. Revision is one of the exquisite pleasures of writing.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Ideas Reform Revision Work Writing
Overnight business could go down enough to hurt; yet as a rule it slowly recovered-sometimes it seemed to take forever-went up, not high enough to be really up, only not down.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Down Forever Hurt Obstacles Overnight
How can we be strangers if we both believe in God?
BERNARD MALAMUD

Believe Both God Stranger
Of course it would cost something, but he was an expert in cutting corners; and when there were no more corners left he would make circles rounder.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Circles Cutting Experts
I don’t think you can do anything for anyone without giving up something of your own.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Give Up Giving Thinking
The first draft of a book is the most uncertain-where you need guts, the ability to accept the imperfect until it is better.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Accept Book Imperfect Uncertain Until
For misery don’t blame God. He gives the food but we cook it.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Blame Giving Misery
Revision is one of the exquisite pleasures of writing.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Pleasure Revision Writing
There are no wrong books. What’s wrong is the fear of them.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Book Fixers Wrong
Those who write about life, reflect about life. you see in others who you are.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Who You Are Writing
How one works, assuming he’s disciplined, doesn’t matter.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Assuming Discipline Matter Works
All my life I wanted to accomplish something worthwhile-a thing people will say took a little something.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Accomplishment Littles People
Writers who can’t invent stories often substitute style for narrative. They remind me of the painter who couldn’t paint people, so he painted chairs.
BERNARD MALAMUD

People Stories Style
A man has to construct, invent, his freedom.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Constructs Freedom Invent Men
You write by sitting down and writing. There’s no particular time or place—you suit yourself, your nature.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Down Sitting Writing
We have in my country (Russia) a quotation: “It is impossible to make out of apology a fur coat.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Apology Country Russia
Nationality isn’t soul.
BERNARD MALAMUD

Nation Nationality Soul

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

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Bernard Malamud Quotes