--- title: "10 Never Quotes By Tom Wolfe" description: "10 Never quotes by Tom Wolfe. Plus more from Tom Wolfe and more Never sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/tom-wolfe-2191_american_i-ve-never-met-an-american-who-wanted-to_2552881.jpg" --- > [I've never met an American who wanted to build an empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-ve-never-met-an-american-who-wanted-to-build-an-empire/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/tom-wolfe-2191_american_i-ve-never-met-an-american-who-wanted-to_2552881.jpg) > [Nonfiction is never going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/nonfiction-is-never-going-to-die/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/tom-wolfe-2191_die_nonfiction-is-never-going-to-die-404151_404151.jpg) > [I never forget. I never forgive. I can wait. I find it very easy to harbor a grudge. I have scores to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-never-forget-i-never-forgive-i-can-wait-i-find-it-very-easy-to/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/tom-wolfe-2191_easy_i-never-forget-i-never-forgive-i-can-wai_1106041.jpg) > [You never realise how much of your background is sewn into the lining of your clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/you-never-realise-how-much-of-your-background-is-sewn-into-the-lining/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d87/tom-wolfe-2191_background_you-never-realise-how-much-of-your-backg_379624.jpg) > ['Back to Blood' really took it out of me. While I was writing it, I just never went out anywhere, except to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-while-i-was-writing-it-i-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/tom-wolfe-2191_anywhere_back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-w_57459.jpg) > [I wrote a number of pieces in the year 1966 that were so bad that, although I'm a great collector of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-wrote-a-number-of-pieces-in-the-year-1966-that-were-so-bad-that/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b27/tom-wolfe-2191_bad_i-wrote-a-number-of-pieces-in-the-year-1_1299971.jpg) > [Nerds... the 'nerd' has never been precisely defined, thanks to the psychological complexity of the creature. The word has connotations of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/nerds-the-nerd-has-never-been-precisely-defined-thanks-to-the/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/tom-wolfe-2191_been_nerds-the-nerd-has-never-been-precisely_2000521.jpg) > [I have never knowingly, I swear to God, written satire. The word connotes exaggeration of the foibles of mankind. To me, mankind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-written-satire-the-word/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/tom-wolfe-2191_exaggeration_i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-wr_2885545.jpg) > [I hate stories in which a person has an occupation and you never see him working at it, like all those marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-hate-stories-in-which-a-person-has-an-occupation-and-you-never-see/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a5/tom-wolfe-2191_career_i-hate-stories-in-which-a-person-has-an_493508.jpg) > [I have no idea who coined the term 'the New Journalism,' or when it was coined. I have never even liked the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-have-no-idea-who-coined-the-term-the-new-journalism-or-when-it-was/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/tom-wolfe-2191_any_i-have-no-idea-who-coined-the-term-the-n_2974117.jpg) ## Other authors on Never ## More by Tom Wolfe > [“Well … things are beginning to stack up a little,” said Gordo. It was the same old sod-hut drawl. He sounded like the airline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/well-things-are-beginning-to-stack-up-a-little-said-gordo-it-was-the/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Everything in everybody’s life is … significant. And everybody is alert, watching for the meanings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/everything-in-everybody-s-life-is-significant-and-everybody-is-alert/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > ['Back to Blood' really took it out of me. While I was writing it, I just never went out anywhere, except to the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-while-i-was-writing-it-i-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [In the U.S., the term 'general aviation' means its exact opposite, the way 'public school' does in England. An English public school is private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/in-the-u-s-the-term-general-aviation-means-its-exact-opposite-the-way/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [That's mostly what the Internet is, just passing the time. But unfortunately you are dealing with words that can have meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/that-s-mostly-what-the-internet-is-just-passing-the-time-but/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“The dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-dark-night-of-fascism-is-always-descending-in-the-united-states/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Loneliness wasn't just a state of mind, was it? It was tactile. She could feel it. It was a sixth sense, not in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/loneliness-wasn-t-just-a-state-of-mind-was-it-it-was-tactile-she/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [it is either make this thing permanent inside of you or forever just climb draggled up into the conning tower every time for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/it-is-either-make-this-thing-permanent-inside-of-you-or-forever-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I found a great many pieces of punctuation and typography lying around dormant when I came along - and I must say I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-found-a-great-many-pieces-of-punctuation-and-typography-lying/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“They became desperate for an antidote, such as coziness & color. They tried to bury the obligatory white sofas under Thai-silk throw pillows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/they-became-desperate-for-an-antidote-such-as-coziness-color-they/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [A cult is a religion with no political power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/a-cult-is-a-religion-with-no-political-power/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I don't think journalists should talk about whom they're voting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-don-t-think-journalists-should-talk-about-whom-they-re-voting-for/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Even hostile parodies admit from the start that the target has a distinct voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/even-hostile-parodies-admit-from-the-start-that-the-target-has-a/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I had always looked down on sociology as this arriviste discipline. It didn't have the noble history of English and history as a subject.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-had-always-looked-down-on-sociology-as-this-arriviste-discipline-it/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I read somewhere that writers, as they get older, become more and more perfectionist. Which may be because they think more highly of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-read-somewhere-that-writers-as-they-get-older-become-more-and-more/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/tom-wolfe/#itemlist", "name": "10 Never Quotes By Tom Wolfe", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never met an American who wanted to build an empire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-ve-never-met-an-american-who-wanted-to-build-an-empire/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/tom-wolfe-2191_american_i-ve-never-met-an-american-who-wanted-to_2552881.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/tom-wolfe-2191_american_i-ve-never-met-an-american-who-wanted-to_2552881.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/tom-wolfe-2191_american_i-ve-never-met-an-american-who-wanted-to_2552881.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've never met an American who wanted to build an empire.” — Tom Wolfe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nonfiction is never going to die.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/nonfiction-is-never-going-to-die/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/tom-wolfe-2191_die_nonfiction-is-never-going-to-die-404151_404151.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/tom-wolfe-2191_die_nonfiction-is-never-going-to-die-404151_404151.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4a/tom-wolfe-2191_die_nonfiction-is-never-going-to-die-404151_404151.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nonfiction is never going to die.” — Tom Wolfe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never forget. 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While I was writing it, I just never went out anywhere, except to the gym.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-while-i-was-writing-it-i-just/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/tom-wolfe-2191_anywhere_back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-w_57459.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/tom-wolfe-2191_anywhere_back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-w_57459.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5b/tom-wolfe-2191_anywhere_back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-w_57459.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“'Back to Blood' really took it out of me. 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The word has connotations of some level of intelligence. The typical nerd is a male with intelligence but no sense of giving it a manly face.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/nerds-the-nerd-has-never-been-precisely-defined-thanks-to-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/tom-wolfe-2191_been_nerds-the-nerd-has-never-been-precisely_2000521.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/tom-wolfe-2191_been_nerds-the-nerd-has-never-been-precisely_2000521.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d3/tom-wolfe-2191_been_nerds-the-nerd-has-never-been-precisely_2000521.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nerds... the 'nerd' has never been precisely defined, thanks to the psychological complexity of the…” — Tom Wolfe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have never knowingly, I swear to God, written satire. The word connotes exaggeration of the foibles of mankind. To me, mankind just has foibles. You don't have to push it!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-written-satire-the-word/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/tom-wolfe-2191_exaggeration_i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-wr_2885545.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/tom-wolfe-2191_exaggeration_i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-wr_2885545.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/tom-wolfe-2191_exaggeration_i-have-never-knowingly-i-swear-to-god-wr_2885545.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have never knowingly, I swear to God, written satire. 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I have never even liked the term. Any movement, group, party, program, philosophy or theory that goes under a name with 'new' in it is just begging for trouble, of course.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-have-no-idea-who-coined-the-term-the-new-journalism-or-when-it-was/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/tom-wolfe-2191_any_i-have-no-idea-who-coined-the-term-the-n_2974117.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/tom-wolfe-2191_any_i-have-no-idea-who-coined-the-term-the-n_2974117.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/tom-wolfe-2191_any_i-have-no-idea-who-coined-the-term-the-n_2974117.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have no idea who coined the term 'the New Journalism,' or when it was coined. 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