Joan Didion Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Joan Didion

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Joan Didion Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Joan Didion on Wise Famous Quotes.

Joan Didion quotes: She knew all the indices to the idle lonely, never bought a small tube of toothpaste, never dropped a magazine in her shopping card. She knew all the indices to the idle lonely, never bought a small tube of toothpaste, never dropped a magazine in her shopping card.
Joan Didion quotes: I had forgotten this dedication. I had not sufficiently appreciated it, a persistent theme by that stage of whatever I was going through. I I had forgotten this dedication. I had not sufficiently appreciated it, a persistent theme by that stage of whatever I was going through. I
Joan Didion quotes: The last sentence in a piece is another adventure. It should open the piece up. The last sentence in a piece is another adventure. It should open the piece up.
Joan Didion quotes: Can you evade the dying of the brightness?Or do you evade only its warning?Where are you left if you miss the message the blue nights bring? Can you evade the dying of the brightness?
Or do you evade only its warning?
Where are you left if you miss the message the blue nights bring?
Joan Didion quotes: Innocence ends when one is stripped of the delusion that one likes oneself. Innocence ends when one is stripped of the delusion that one likes oneself.
Joan Didion quotes: It kills me when people talk about California hedonism. Anybody who talks about California hedonism has never spent a Christmas in Sacramento. It kills me when people talk about California hedonism. Anybody who talks about California hedonism has never spent a Christmas in Sacramento.
Joan Didion quotes: I have not been the witness I wanted to be. I have not been the witness I wanted to be.
Joan Didion quotes: The minute you start putting words on paper you're eliminating possibilities. The minute you start putting words on paper you're eliminating possibilities.
Joan Didion quotes: I don't think anybody feels like they're a good parent. Or if people think they're good parents, they ought to think again. I don't think anybody feels like they're a good parent. Or if people think they're good parents, they ought to think again.
Joan Didion quotes: There could be no snakes in Quintana Roo's garden.Only later did I see that I had been raising her as a doll. There could be no snakes in Quintana Roo's garden.
Only later did I see that I had been raising her as a doll.
Joan Didion quotes: In the midst of life we are in death, Episcopalians say at the graveside. In the midst of life we are in death, Episcopalians say at the graveside.
Joan Didion quotes: Strength is one of those things you're supposed to have. You don't feel that you have it at the time you're going through it. Strength is one of those things you're supposed to have. You don't feel that you have it at the time you're going through it.
Joan Didion quotes: The child trying not to appear as a child, of the strenuousness with which she tried to present the face of a convincing adult. The child trying not to appear as a child, of the strenuousness with which she tried to present the face of a convincing adult.
Joan Didion quotes: Hand that on parting squeezes your shoulder, salutes the small of your back. Hand that on parting squeezes your shoulder, salutes the small of your back.
Joan Didion quotes: Her choices, all.Sentimental choices, things she remembered.I remembered them too. Her choices, all.
Sentimental choices, things she remembered.
I remembered them too.
Joan Didion quotes: Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends. Life changes fast. Life changes in the instant. You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.
Joan Didion quotes: In New Orleans they have mastered the art of the motionless. In In New Orleans they have mastered the art of the motionless. In
Joan Didion quotes: Of course great hotels have always been social ideas, flawless mirrors to the particular societies they service. Of course great hotels have always been social ideas, flawless mirrors to the particular societies they service.
Joan Didion quotes: [P]eople with self-respect have the courage of their mistakes. They know the price of things. [P]eople with self-respect have the courage of their mistakes. They know the price of things.
Joan Didion quotes: I don't lead a writer's life. And I think that can be a source of suspicion and irritation to some people. I don't lead a writer's life. And I think that can be a source of suspicion and irritation to some people.
Joan Didion quotes: We write to discover what we think. We write to discover what we think.
Joan Didion quotes: I recognize a lot of the things I'm going through. Like, I lose my temper a lot and I become unhinged and kind of hysterical. I recognize a lot of the things I'm going through. Like, I lose my temper a lot and I become unhinged and kind of hysterical.
Joan Didion quotes: I'm not sure I have the physical strength to undertake a novel. I'm not sure I have the physical strength to undertake a novel.
Joan Didion quotes: Time is the school in which we learn Time is the school in which we learn
Joan Didion quotes: There must be times when everybody writes when they feel they're evading writing. There must be times when everybody writes when they feel they're evading writing.
Joan Didion quotes: I invent a reason for the Hertz attendant to start the rental car.I am seventy-five years old: this is not the reason I give. I invent a reason for the Hertz attendant to start the rental car.
I am seventy-five years old: this is not the reason I give.
Joan Didion quotes: Try to think about having enough left to break a bottle over it. Try to think about having enough left to break a bottle over it.
Joan Didion quotes: There's a point when you go with what you've got. Or you don't go. There's a point when you go with what you've got. Or you don't go.
Joan Didion quotes: To believe in 'the greater good' is to operate, necessarily, in a certain ethical suspension. To believe in 'the greater good' is to operate, necessarily, in a certain ethical suspension.
Joan Didion quotes: Privilege" is something else."Privilege" is a judgment."Privilege" is an opinion."Privilege" is an accusation. Privilege" is something else.
"Privilege" is a judgment.
"Privilege" is an opinion.
"Privilege" is an accusation.
Joan Didion quotes: I'm not very interested in people. I recognize it in myself - there is a basic indifference toward people. I'm not very interested in people. I recognize it in myself - there is a basic indifference toward people.
Joan Didion quotes: I am always writing to myself. I am always writing to myself.
Joan Didion quotes: You aren't sure if you're making the right decision - about anything, ever. You aren't sure if you're making the right decision - about anything, ever.
Joan Didion quotes: In fact I had no idea how to be a wife. In fact I had no idea how to be a wife.
Joan Didion quotes: I was no longer, if I had ever been, afraid to die: I was now afraid not to die. I was no longer, if I had ever been, afraid to die: I was now afraid not to die.
Joan Didion quotes: After Princeton, the years seem like a blur, but the days seem more like rapid fire. - Donald Rumsfeld in Year of Magical Thinking After Princeton, the years seem like a blur, but the days seem more like rapid fire. - Donald Rumsfeld in Year of Magical Thinking
Joan Didion quotes: I have a theatrical temperament. I'm not interested in the middle road - maybe because everyone's on it. Rationality, reasonableness bewilder me. I have a theatrical temperament. I'm not interested in the middle road - maybe because everyone's on it. Rationality, reasonableness bewilder me.
Joan Didion quotes: Tell me what matters," BZ said.Nothing," Maria said. Tell me what matters," BZ said.
Nothing," Maria said.
Joan Didion quotes: Anything worth having has its price. Anything worth having has its price.
Joan Didion quotes: Just an ordinary day. "And then - gone. Just an ordinary day. "And then - gone.
Joan Didion quotes: ...the revelation that the dream was teaching the dreamers how to live. ...the revelation that the dream was teaching the dreamers how to live.
Joan Didion quotes: I could tell you that I came back because I had promises to keep, but maybe it was because nobody asked me to stay. I could tell you that I came back because I had promises to keep, but maybe it was because nobody asked me to stay.
Joan Didion quotes: Details are our business as writers. Your heart leaps when you see a detail that can go somewhere Details are our business as writers. Your heart leaps when you see a detail that can go somewhere
Joan Didion quotes: On the whole, I don't want to think too much about why I write what I write. If I know what I'm doing ... I can't do it. On the whole, I don't want to think too much about why I write what I write. If I know what I'm doing ... I can't do it.
Joan Didion quotes: Mourning has its place but also its limits. Mourning has its place but also its limits.
Joan Didion quotes: What makes Iago evil? Some people ask. I never ask. What makes Iago evil? Some people ask. I never ask.
Joan Didion quotes: Why did I think that this improvisation could never end? If I had seen that it could, what would I have done differently? What would he? Why did I think that this improvisation could never end? If I had seen that it could, what would I have done differently? What would he?
Joan Didion quotes: I don't write for catharsis; I have to write to understand. I don't write for catharsis; I have to write to understand.
Joan Didion quotes: Read, learn, work it up, go to the literature.Information is control. Read, learn, work it up, go to the literature.
Information is control.
Joan Didion quotes: All I know about grammar is its infinite power. All I know about grammar is its infinite power.
Joan Didion quotes: Some events in life would remain beyond my ability to control or manage them. Some events would just happen. Some events in life would remain beyond my ability to control or manage them. Some events would just happen.
Joan Didion quotes: We tell each other stories in order to live. We tell each other stories in order to live.
Joan Didion quotes: I lead a very conventional life. I lead a very conventional life.
Joan Didion quotes: There was a level on which I believed that what had happened remained reversible There was a level on which I believed that what had happened remained reversible
Joan Didion quotes: I am what I am. To look for reasons is beside the point. I am what I am. To look for reasons is beside the point.
Joan Didion quotes: To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselvesthere lies the great, singular power of self-respect. To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves
there lies the great, singular power of self-respect.
Joan Didion quotes: I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be
Joan Didion quotes: I no longer want reminders of what was, what got broken, what got lost, what got wasted. I no longer want reminders of what was, what got broken, what got lost, what got wasted.
Joan Didion quotes: I cannot count the days on which I found myself driving abruptly blinded by tears. I cannot count the days on which I found myself driving abruptly blinded by tears.
Joan Didion quotes: Because we were both writers and both worked at home our days were filled with the sound of each other's voice Because we were both writers and both worked at home our days were filled with the sound of each other's voice
Joan Didion quotes: I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear. I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.
Joan Didion quotes: Grammar is a piano I play by ear. All I know about grammar is its power. Grammar is a piano I play by ear. All I know about grammar is its power.
Joan Didion quotes: It's just a deep pleasure to read something you've written yourself - if and when you like it. It's just a deep pleasure to read something you've written yourself - if and when you like it.
Joan Didion quotes: I can't imagine writing if I didn't have a reader. Any more than an actor can imagine acting without an audience. I can't imagine writing if I didn't have a reader. Any more than an actor can imagine acting without an audience.
Joan Didion quotes: Let me just be in the ground.Let me just be in the ground and go to sleep. Let me just be in the ground.
Let me just be in the ground and go to sleep.
Joan Didion quotes: In terms of work, I never felt that I've done it right. I always want to have done it differently, to have done it better, a different way. In terms of work, I never felt that I've done it right. I always want to have done it differently, to have done it better, a different way.
Joan Didion quotes: I write to know what I think. I write to know what I think.
Joan Didion quotes: What you're normally doing as a writer is trying to find the narrative. What you're normally doing as a writer is trying to find the narrative.
Joan Didion quotes: The past could be jettisoned ... but seeds got carried. The past could be jettisoned ... but seeds got carried.
Joan Didion quotes: Memories are what you no longer want to remember. Memories are what you no longer want to remember.
Joan Didion quotes: Water is important to people who do not have it, and the same is true of control. Water is important to people who do not have it, and the same is true of control.
Joan Didion quotes: California: The west coast of Iowa. California: The west coast of Iowa.
Joan Didion quotes: I was cold because nothing in my body was working as it should. I was cold because nothing in my body was working as it should.
Joan Didion quotes: Was it only by dreaming or writing that I could find out what I thought? Was it only by dreaming or writing that I could find out what I thought?
Joan Didion quotes: When we talk about mortality we are talking about our children. When we talk about mortality we are talking about our children.
Joan Didion quotes: Do not whine ... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone. Do not whine ... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.
Joan Didion quotes: Someone who lives always with a plane schedule in the drawer lives on a slightly different calendar. Someone who lives always with a plane schedule in the drawer lives on a slightly different calendar.
Joan Didion quotes: It's hard to find a book that's safe to write. Because one always goes to dark or difficult places. It's hard to find a book that's safe to write. Because one always goes to dark or difficult places.
Joan Didion quotes: Why do you always have to be right. Why do you always have to have the last word. For once in your life just let it go. Why do you always have to be right. Why do you always have to have the last word. For once in your life just let it go.
Joan Didion quotes: It occurs to me that we allow ourselves to imagine only such messages as we need to survive. It occurs to me that we allow ourselves to imagine only such messages as we need to survive.
Joan Didion quotes: There's a general impulse to distract the grieving person - as if you could. There's a general impulse to distract the grieving person - as if you could.
Joan Didion quotes: The way you got sideswiped was by going back. I The way you got sideswiped was by going back. I
Joan Didion quotes: Writing nonfiction is more like sculpture, a matter of shaping the research into the finished thing. Writing nonfiction is more like sculpture, a matter of shaping the research into the finished thing.
Joan Didion quotes: To cure jealousy is to see it for what it is, a dissatisfaction with self. To cure jealousy is to see it for what it is, a dissatisfaction with self.
Joan Didion quotes: A pool is water, made available and useful, and is, as such, infinitely soothing to the western eye. A pool is water, made available and useful, and is, as such, infinitely soothing to the western eye.
Joan Didion quotes: Of course, you always think about how it will be read. I always aim for a reading in one sitting. Of course, you always think about how it will be read. I always aim for a reading in one sitting.
Joan Didion quotes: The writer is always tricking the reader into listening to their dream. The writer is always tricking the reader into listening to their dream.
Joan Didion quotes: My own fantasies of what life would be like at 24 tended to the more spectacular. My own fantasies of what life would be like at 24 tended to the more spectacular.
Joan Didion quotes: I had never before understood what "despair" meant, and I am not sure that I understand now, but I understood that year. I had never before understood what "despair" meant, and I am not sure that I understand now, but I understood that year.
Joan Didion quotes: ("Tell me," a rabbi asked Daniel Bell when he said, as a child, that he did not believe in God. "Do you think God cares?") ("Tell me," a rabbi asked Daniel Bell when he said, as a child, that he did not believe in God. "Do you think God cares?")
Joan Didion quotes: We all remember what we need to remember. We all remember what we need to remember.
Joan Didion quotes: The bereaved must be urged to "sit in a sunny room," preferably one with an open fire. The bereaved must be urged to "sit in a sunny room," preferably one with an open fire.
Joan Didion quotes: You see what the word of Michael Laski is: a minor but perilous triumph of being over nothingness. You see what the word of Michael Laski is: a minor but perilous triumph of being over nothingness.
Joan Didion quotes: We all have the same dreams. We all have the same dreams.
Joan Didion quotes: If you aren't aware of the reader, you're working in a vacuum. If you aren't aware of the reader, you're working in a vacuum.
Joan Didion quotes: Only the survivors of a death are truly left alone. Only the survivors of a death are truly left alone.
Joan Didion quotes: You have to pick the places you don't walk away from. You have to pick the places you don't walk away from.
Joan Didion quotes: Marriage is not only time: it is also, parodoxically, the denial of time. For forty years I saw myself through John's eyes. I did not age. Marriage is not only time: it is also, parodoxically, the denial of time. For forty years I saw myself through John's eyes. I did not age.
Joan Didion quotes: I don't really get things very ... intuitively. I mean, I don't immediately understand things. The only way I really get it is by writing it down. I don't really get things very ... intuitively. I mean, I don't immediately understand things. The only way I really get it is by writing it down.
Joan Didion quotes: Writing is the act of saying "I," of imposing oneself upon other people, of saying "listen to me, see it my way, change your mind." Writing is the act of saying "I," of imposing oneself upon other people, of saying "listen to me, see it my way, change your mind."

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