Literature Quotes

Small: Gossip is more popular than literature
Hugh Leonard
"Gossip is more popular than literature"
Hugh Leonard, Dramatist
Small: In science, read, by preference, the newest works in literature, the oldest. The classic literature is always
"In science, read, by preference, the newest works; in literature, the oldest. The classic literature is always modern"
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton, Politician
Small: The knowledge of languages was very useful. I have a university degree in foreign languages and literature
"The knowledge of languages was very useful. I have a university degree in foreign languages and literature"
Emma Bonino, Politician
Small: Literature that keeps employing new linguistic and formal modes of expression to draft a panorama of society a
"Literature that keeps employing new linguistic and formal modes of expression to draft a panorama of society as a whole while at the same time exposing it, tearing the masks from its face - for me that would be deserving of an award"
Elfriede Jelinek, Playwright
Small: Only the more rugged mortals should attempt to keep up with current literature
"Only the more rugged mortals should attempt to keep up with current literature"
George Ade, Playwright
Small: The classics are only primitive literature. They belong to the same class as primitive machinery and primitive
"The classics are only primitive literature. They belong to the same class as primitive machinery and primitive music and primitive medicine"
Stephen Leacock, Economist
Small: In my teens, I developed a passionate idolatry for a teacher of English literature. I wanted to do something t
"In my teens, I developed a passionate idolatry for a teacher of English literature. I wanted to do something that he would approve of more, so I thought I should be some sort of a scholar"
Trevor Nunn, Director
Small: I learned a lot from Elvis. He taught me about music, art, literature, and culture
Priscilla Presley
"I learned a lot from Elvis. He taught me about music, art, literature, and culture"
Priscilla Presley, Actress
Small: I think art is the ultimate transformative tool. You can change somebodys mind or change somebodys life with o
Sheryl Crow
"I think art is the ultimate transformative tool. You can change somebody's mind or change somebody's life with one song, one painting, or one piece of literature"
Sheryl Crow, Musician
Small: Well, the oil, the oil spot, if you will, is a, is a term in counterinsurgency literature that connotes a peac
"Well, the oil, the oil spot, if you will, is a, is a term in counterinsurgency literature that connotes a peaceful area, secure area. So what you're trying to do is to always extend that, to push that out"
David Petraeus, Soldier
Small: Pop changes week to week, month to month. But great music is like literature
"Pop changes week to week, month to month. But great music is like literature"
Ravi Shankar, Musician
Small: To achieve lasting literature, fictional or factual, a writer needs perceptive vision, absorptive capacity, an
Lawrence Clark Powell
"To achieve lasting literature, fictional or factual, a writer needs perceptive vision, absorptive capacity, and creative strength"
Lawrence Clark Powell
Small: I lived in a region in the northwestern province - the people there in general have a great love for the Talib
"I lived in a region in the northwestern province - the people there in general have a great love for the Taliban, so I started to read some of the literature of the scholars and the history of the movement. And my heart became attached to them"
John Walker Lindh, Criminal
Small: The two World Wars came in part, like much modern literature and art, because men, whose nature is to tire of
"The two World Wars came in part, like much modern literature and art, because men, whose nature is to tire of everything in turn... tired of common sense and civilization"
F. L. Lucas, Critic
Small: I remain loyal to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert in music and to Shakespeare and Jane Austen in literatu
"I remain loyal to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert in music and to Shakespeare and Jane Austen in literature"
Anne Stevenson, Poet
Small: I just happen to like the work. I like preparing for a role. I like reading. I like analyzing. I like literatu
"I just happen to like the work. I like preparing for a role. I like reading. I like analyzing. I like literature. I like emotions. I like working with other actors"
Elle Macpherson, Model
Small: I wanted the press to become something of a movement. Not a movement committed to a particular ism, but a gath
"I wanted the press to become something of a movement. Not a movement committed to a particular "ism," but a gathering together of writers with an aesthetic approach to literature and with a lust for excellence"
John Metcalf, Editor
Small: All literature is political
"All literature is political"
LeVar Burton, Actor
Small: Music enriches peoples lives in the same way paintings and literature do. Everybody deserves that
"Music enriches people's lives in the same way paintings and literature do. Everybody deserves that"
Victoria Wood, Comedian
Small: During our stay in London for the first time I was able to establish personal contact with some of the organic
"During our stay in London for the first time I was able to establish personal contact with some of the organic chemists, whose work I knew and admired from the literature. I found them most gracious and helpful"
George Andrew Olah, Scientist
Small: It seems to me that an author who has determined very new domains in literature is Gertrude Stein
"It seems to me that an author who has determined very new domains in literature is Gertrude Stein"
Raymond Queneau, Poet
Small: Ive been missing Japanese literature so much of late
Utada Hikaru
"I've been missing Japanese literature so much of late"
Utada Hikaru, Musician
Small: What I am going to write is the last of what I have to say. I will say that literature is the only consciousne
"What I am going to write is the last of what I have to say. I will say that literature is the only consciousness we possess and that its role as consciousness must inform us of our ability to comprehend the hideous danger of nuclear power"
John Cheever, Writer
Small: Its different in Scotland. People who come to readings are more interested in literature as such, but the read
"It's different in Scotland. People who come to readings are more interested in literature as such, but the readership in general is really quite diverse. It's a cliche, but it's said that people who read my books don't read any other books, and you do get that element"
Irvine Welsh, Novelist
Small: When you kill somebody in the movies, it matters, whereas in literature it can be allegorical
"When you kill somebody in the movies, it matters, whereas in literature it can be allegorical"
Barbet Schroeder, Director
Small: The attempt to devote oneself to literature alone is a most deceptive thing, and often, paradoxically, it is l
"The attempt to devote oneself to literature alone is a most deceptive thing, and often, paradoxically, it is literature that suffers for it"
Vaclav Havel, Leader
Small: But picketing - picketing for or against something, and handing out literature - these are conspicuously forma
"But picketing - picketing for or against something, and handing out literature - these are conspicuously formal actions. They have to be understood as indirect communication"
Tony Conrad, Artist
Small: The idea of bringing young people up to Literature is doubtless calculated to raise the eyebrows almost as muc
"The idea of bringing young people up to Literature is doubtless calculated to raise the eyebrows almost as much as the suggestion of bringing them up to the Stage"
James Payn, Novelist
Small: Cultivating literature as I do upon a little oatmeal, and driving, when in a position to be driven at all, in
"Cultivating literature as I do upon a little oatmeal, and driving, when in a position to be driven at all, in that humble vehicle, the 'bus, I have had, perhaps, exceptional opportunities for observing their mutual position and behaviour; and it is very peculiar"
James Payn, Novelist
Small: SF is the literature of the theoretically possible, and F is the literature of the impossible
"SF is the literature of the theoretically possible, and F is the literature of the impossible"
Piers Anthony, Writer
Small: I think the great artists, especially in literature, have always thought with the heart
"I think the great artists, especially in literature, have always thought with the heart"
Douglas Sirk, Director
Small: There is a broad cultural current that conveys the idea that a film is like a football team, it represents a n
"There is a broad cultural current that conveys the idea that a film is like a football team, it represents a nation, it is illustrated literature, filmed radio. These are outdated concepts, totally out of touch with today's realities"
Jean-Jacques Annaud, Director
Small: During half a century of literary work, I have endeavoured to introduce the philosophy of evolution into the s
"During half a century of literary work, I have endeavoured to introduce the philosophy of evolution into the sphere of literature, and to inspire my readers to think in evolutionary terms"
Johannes Vilhelm Jensen, Author
Small: In the history of literature there are many great enduring works which were not published in the lifetimes of
"In the history of literature there are many great enduring works which were not published in the lifetimes of the authors. If the authors had not achieved self-affirmation while writing, how could they have continued to write?"
Gao Xingjian, Novelist
Small: I had all the normal interests - I played basketball and I headed the school paper. But I also developed very
"I had all the normal interests - I played basketball and I headed the school paper. But I also developed very early a great love for music and literature and the theater"
Carlisle Floyd, Composer
Small: I do not believe in sex distinction in literature, law, politics, or trade - or that modesty and virtue are mo
"I do not believe in sex distinction in literature, law, politics, or trade - or that modesty and virtue are more becoming to women than to men, but wish we had more of it everywhere"
Belva Lockwood, Lawyer
Small: Literature is made upon any occasion that a challenge is put to the legal apparatus by conscience in touch wit
"Literature is made upon any occasion that a challenge is put to the legal apparatus by conscience in touch with humanity"
Nelson Algren, Novelist
Small: Like most kids growing up, I had a very wide interest. I was interested in everything. I tried to take advanta
Michael P. Anderson
"Like most kids growing up, I had a very wide interest. I was interested in everything. I tried to take advantage of everything, from the sciences to music to writing to literature"
Michael P. Anderson, Astronaut
Small: Studying literature at Harvard is like learning about women at the Mayo clinic
"Studying literature at Harvard is like learning about women at the Mayo clinic"
Roy Blount, Jr., Writer
Small: Literature is always trying to show other parts of this immense universe in which we live. Its endless.
"Literature is always trying to show other parts of this immense universe in which we live. It's endless. I'm sure there will be other writers who will discover new worlds"
Nathalie Sarraute, Lawyer