I always thought that you could do worse than find yourself dying in the company of a devoted former student. — John Irving Business Copy Share Image
My old coach used to say that if you were in it for the match, if you were in it for the… — John Irving Copy Share Image
What was even more germane was my study of the history of religion. It was one of the few things in school… — John Irving Education Copy Share Image
I lived five years in the Midwest, and I loved it. The people were so nice. The people were so open. — John Irving Copy Share Image
The first of my father's illusions was that bears could survive the life led by human beings; the second was that human… — John Irving Bears Copy Share Image
It happens to many teenagers-that moment when you feel full of resentment or distrust for those adults you once loved unquestioningly. — John Irving Adults Copy Share Image
I believe a novel should be as complicated and involved as you're capable of making it. — John Irving Copy Share Image
“TODAY’S THE DAY! ‘… HE THAT BELIEVETH IN ME, THOUGH HE WERE DEAD, YET SHALL HE LIVE; AND WHOSOEVER LIVETH AND BELIEVETH… — John Irving Today Copy Share Image
“Of course: because it was in one of the camps that he went blind. They had performed some failed experiment on his… — John Irving Summer camp Copy Share Image
And when you love a book, commit one glorious sentence of it-perhaps your favorite sentence-to memory. That way you won't forget the… — John Irving Book Copy Share Image
No one but me ever put a hand on me to feel that baby. No one wanted to put his ear against… — John Irving Baby Copy Share Image
As many times as I've seen 'The Merchant of Venice,' I always take Shylock's side. For all the hatred that guy is… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Look at the world: look at how many of our peerless leaders presume to tell us that they know what God wants!… — John Irving Leadership Copy Share Image
THERE'S NO MONKEY BUSINESS ABOUT THIS ELECTION,' he told the voters. 'IF YOU'RE ENOUGH OF AN ASSHOLE TO VOTE FOR NIXON, YOUR… — John Irving Business Copy Share Image
“Reagan Declares Firmness on Gulf; Plans are Unclear Isn't that classic? I don't mean the semicolon; I mean, isn't that just what… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“The time to read Madame Bovary is when your romantic hopes and desires have crashed, and you will believe that your future… — John Irving Future relationship Copy Share Image
“Just accept as a fact that everyone of any emotional importance to you is related to everyone else of any emotional importance… — John Irving Change your life Copy Share Image
So we dream on. Thus we invent our lives. We give ourselves a sainted mother, we make our father a hero; and… — John Irving Brave Copy Share Image
Every American should be forced to live outside the United States for a year or two. Americans should be forced to see… — John Irving America Copy Share Image
I am not attracted to writers by style. What style do Dickens, Grass, and Vonnegut have in common? How silly! I am… — John Irving Angry Copy Share Image
In our hearts... there must abide some pity for those people who have always felt themselves to be separate from even their… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Amy Martin (ladysky) and Daniel Baciagalupo had a month to spend on Charlotte Turner's island in Georgian Bay; it was their wilderness… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“The night she died, Dan found her propped up in her hospital bed; she appeared to have fallen asleep with the TV… — John Irving Television Copy Share Image
What do Americans know about morality? They don't want their presidents to have penises but they don't mind if their presidents covertly… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Let the grave mound grow a little grass, I always say; then it’s safe to look.” — John Irving Copy Share Image
“The two old secretaries conversed in the manner of hostile but toothless male dogs.” — John Irving Secretaries Copy Share Image
Just when you begin thinking of yourself as memorable, you run into someone who can't even remember having met you — John Irving Memorable Copy Share Image
“We tend to think that if you don't know where you're goin, you don't belong where you are.” — john irving Copy Share Image
“the public entertainment of any period distinguishing the period as clearly as its so-called politics,” — John Irving Politics Copy Share Image
… but only because exhaustion is a life-sign; it is at least a form of being human. — John Irving Being human Copy Share Image
The ability to see the future can be a burden, and the younger you are and the more isolated you feel, maybe… — John Irving Ability Copy Share Image
Among adults – and among orphans – Wilbur Larch noted that delirious happiness was rare. — John Irving Adults Copy Share Image
“Because I was a Wheelwright-and, therefore, a New England snob-I'd assumed that Phoenix was largely composed of Mormons and Baptists and Republicans;” — John Irving Religion Copy Share Image
“it's not god who's fucked up, it's the screamers who say they believe in him and who claim to pursue their ends… — John Irving Christian-behavior Copy Share Image
“For seven of the eight years he was president, Reagan would not say the AIDS word.” — John Irving Copy Share Image
“If you're God's instrument, Owen," I said, "how come you need my help to stuff a basketball?” — John Irving God Copy Share Image
“Easter is the main even; if you don't believe in the resurrection, you're not a believer.” — John Irving Easter Copy Share Image
but writers, Garp knew, were just observers - good and ruthless imitators of human behavior. — John Irving Behavior Copy Share Image
Writing a novel is actually searching for victims. As I write I keep looking for casualties. The stories uncover the casualties. — John Irving Books Copy Share Image
We permit bad taste in this country. In fact, we even encourage it - and reward it in all manner of ways. — John Irving Copy Share Image
