The best readers come to fiction to be free of ... all that isn't fiction. — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
You can't write good satirical fiction in America because reality will quickly outdo anything you might invent. — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
Everybody else is working to change, persuade, tempt and control them. The best readers come to fiction to be free of all… — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
“If you don’t know the fantasy life of a country, it’s hard to write fiction about it.” — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
I write fiction and I'm told it's autobiography, I write autobiography and I'm told it's fiction, so since I'm so dim and… — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
“No, I won't do it. I will not be locked into your head in this way. I will not participate in this… — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
What I have in mind when I start to write could fit inside an acorn-an acorn, moreover, that rarely if ever grows… — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
I haven't written a word of fiction since 2009. I have no desire to write fiction. I did what I did and… — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
You asked if I thought my fiction had changed anything in the culture and the answer is no. Sure, there's been some… — Philip Roth Copy Share Image
“The old intergenerational give-and-take of the country-that-used-to-be, when everyone knew his role and took the rules dead seriously, the acculturating back-and-forth that all of… — Philip Roth Copy Share
You be greater than your feelings. I don't demand this of you - life does. Otherwise you'll be washed away by feelings. You'll be… — Philip Roth Copy Share
The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody… — Philip Roth Copy Share
To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that… — Philip Roth Copy Share
“There are no reasons. She is obliged to be as she is. We all are. Reasons are in books.” — Philip Roth Copy Share
“As far as I can see there is no conquering or exorcising the past with words - words born either of imagination or forthrightness.” — Philip Roth Copy Share
“What is astonishing is that we, who had no idea how anything was going to turn out, now know exactly what happened.” — Philip Roth Copy Share
“Good Christ, a Jewish man with parents alive is a fifteen-year-old boy, and will remain a fifteen-year-old boy till they die!” — Philip Roth Copy Share
“Better for real things to be uncontrollable, better for one's life to be undecipherable and intellectually impenetrable than to attempt to make casual sense… — Philip Roth Copy Share
“Doctor Spielvogel, it alleviates nothing fixing the blame - blaming is still ailing, of course, of course - but nonetheless, what was it with… — Philip Roth Copy Share
My God! The English language is a form of communication! Conversation isn't just crossfire where you shoot and get shot at! Where you've got… — Philip Roth Copy Share
You asked if I thought my fiction had changed anything in the culture and the answer is no. Sure, there's been some scandal, but… — Philip Roth Copy Share
