My work as a naval officer in World War II enabled me to serve on 49 different South Pacific islands so that… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
The sense of belonging is one of the great gifts men get in battle. — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“a nation is totally geared to the waging of war, it had better ensure that war keeps occurring somewhere; and” — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
a soldier lives always for the next battle, because he knows that before it arrives impossible changes can occur in his favor. — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“Negroes were drafted, white men weren’t; the poor were hauled off to war, the rich weren’t; the stupid were shot at, the… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“Most important fact of war? Keep your army in existence. Lose the battle, but keep your eye on winning the war.” But” — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“The sanest judgment that can be passed on the genesis of this terrible war between two groups of friends is that it… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
I would suppose I learned how to write when I was very young indeed. When I read a child's book about the… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
When I was a child in the Navy during World War II, I was perennially grateful to the armed services libraries for… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“The Arabs can lose every war, if only they win the last one. The Jews have gained nothing if they win all… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“I can no longer take war or promotion or big income or a large house seriously. I reject empire and Vietnam and… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“[Very rich people] with brains make a great effort to hold on to every penny they have while preaching to the general population that… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
A writer can make a fortune in America, but he can't make a living. — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
As a writer I have persisted in my uncertainty, alternating between novels which could charitably be considered literature and world reporting which by another… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
. . . Luddites were those frenzied traditionalists of the early 19th century who toured [England] wrecking new weaving machines on the theory that… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
I am terrified of restrictive religious doctrine, having learned from history that when men who adhere to any form of it are in control,… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“This is not a promise, this is not threat, it's just the way it's gonna be!!!” — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“We went into the night and for the first time in my life I saw the stars hanging low over the desert, for the… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
The rules seem to be these: If you have written a successful novel, everyone invites you to write short stories. If you have written… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“A Roman came to Rabbi Gimzo the Water Carrier, and asked, "What is this study of the law that you Jews engage in?" and… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
“The chance emergence of the was nothing. Remember this. But its persistence and patient accumulation of stature were everything. Only by relentless effort did… — James A. Michener Copy Share Image
