“Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?” — John Irving Copy Share Image
She felt detached from her family, and thought it strange how they had lavished so much attention on her, as a child,… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Homer Wells was in Wally’s room, reading David Copperfield and thinking about Heaven – ‘…that sky above me, where, in the mystery… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“...friends were more important than lovers - not least for the fact that friendships generally lasted longer than relationships.” — John Irving Copy Share Image
“What do you think I imagine making love to a vagina would be like? Maybe like having sex with a ballroom!” — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Wherever Melony went, she would not be without guidance, she would not be without love, without faith; she had a good book… — John Irving Copy Share Image
The unspoken factor is love. The reason I can work so hard at my writing is that it's not work for me. — John Irving Copy Share Image
“...there's a limit to enduring admiration being a substitute for love.” — John Irving Copy Share Image
“The Winkles appeared to greet the morning vigorously. Although Homer had never heard human beings make love, or moose mate, he knew… — John Irving Copy Share Image
What is hardest to accept about the passage of time is that the people who once mattered the most to us wind… — John Irving Copy Share Image
How we love to love things for other people; how we love to have other people love things through our eyes. — John Irving Copy Share Image
“And in our Scripture class, Owen said, "IT'S TRUE THAT THE DISCIPLES ARE STUPID - THEY NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS MEANS, THEY'RE… — John Irving Copy Share Image
When I love a novel I've read, I want to reread it - in part, to see how it was constructed. — John Irving Copy Share Image
“There is no excuse for cruelty, but--at an orphanage--perhaps we are obliged to withhold love; if you fail to withhold love at… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“And the thing about love," Wally said to Angel, "is that you can’t force anyone. It’s natural to want someone you love… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Because who can describe the look that triggers the memory of loved ones? Who can anticipate the frown, the smile, or the… — John Irving Copy Share Image
Safer than we are.” I told Franny. “Safer than love.” “let me tell ya kid,” Franny said to me, squeezing my hand.… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“He wanted to take Homer Wells in his arms, and hug him, and kiss him, but he could only hope that Homer… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“The situation Larch was thinking of was war, the so-called war in Europe; Larch, and many others, feared that the war wouldn’t… — John Irving Copy Share Image
When people say that German or any other language is romantic... all they really mean is that they've enjoyed a past in… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“He might have told Homer, then, that he loved him very much and that he needed something very active to occupy himself… — John Irving Copy Share Image
Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from… — John Irving Copy Share Image
… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life. — John Irving Copy Share Image
Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean––make sure they know what they mean! — John Irving Copy Share Image
The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow… — John Irving Copy Share Image
I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Nostalgia!" Miss Frost cried. "You´re nostalgic!" She repeated. "Just how old are you, William?" She asked. "Seventeen, " I told her. "Seventeen!" Miss Frost… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said… — John Irving Copy Share Image
It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look… — John Irving Copy Share Image
You're nice,' Cushie told him, squeezing his hand. 'And you're my oldest friend.' But they both must have known that you can know someone… — John Irving Copy Share Image
