--- title: "22 Way Quotes By John Irving" description: "22 Way quotes by John Irving. Plus more from John Irving and more Way sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/john-irving-337_americans_the-only-way-you-get-americans-to-notice_3132050.png" --- > [The only way you get Americans to notice anything is to tax them or draft them or kill them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-only-way-you-get-americans-to-notice-anything-is-to-tax-them-or/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/john-irving-337_americans_the-only-way-you-get-americans-to-notice_3132050.png) > [I am compulsive about writing, I need to do it the way I need sleep and exercise and food and sex; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-am-compulsive-about-writing-i-need-to-do-it-the-way-i-need-sleep/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/john-irving-337_compulsive_i-am-compulsive-about-writing-i-need-to_1885555.png) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-when-you-love-a-book-commit-one-glorious-sentence-of-it-perhaps/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff5/john-irving-337_book_and-when-you-love-a-book-commit-one-glor_1287189.png) > [We permit bad taste in this country. In fact, we even encourage it - and reward it in all manner of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/we-permit-bad-taste-in-this-country-in-fact-we-even-encourage-it-and/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d76/john-irving-337_bad-taste_we-permit-bad-taste-in-this-country-in-f_1343868.png) > [The way you define yourself as a writer is that you write every time you have a free minute. If you didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-way-you-define-yourself-as-a-writer-is-that-you-write-every-time/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/john-irving-337_behave_the-way-you-define-yourself-as-a-writer_991531.png) > [Religious freedom should work two ways: we should be free to practice the religion of our choice, but we must also be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/religious-freedom-should-work-two-ways-we-should-be-free-to-practice/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/john-irving-337_choices_religious-freedom-should-work-two-ways-w_2977580.png) > [Ambition robs you of your childhood. The moment you want to become an adult—in any way—something in your childhood dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/ambition-robs-you-of-your-childhood-the-moment-you-want-to-become-an/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/john-irving-337_adolescence_ambition-robs-you-of-your-childhood-the_3063821.png) > [If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/if-you-are-lucky-enough-to-find-a-way-of-life-you-love-you-have-to/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd6/john-irving-337_courage_if-you-are-lucky-enough-to-find-a-way-of_1559772.png) > [I believe you have constructive accidents en route through a novel only because you have mapped a clear way. If you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-believe-you-have-constructive-accidents-en-route-through-a-novel/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/john-irving-337_accidents_i-believe-you-have-constructive-accident_2633918.png) > [If I have any advantage, maybe, as a writer, it is that I don't think I'm very interesting. I mean, beginning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/if-i-have-any-advantage-maybe-as-a-writer-it-is-that-i-don-t-think-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/867/john-irving-337_advantage_if-i-have-any-advantage-maybe-as-a-write_174377.png) > [We don't always have a choice how we get to know one another. Sometimes, people fall into our lives cleanly--as if out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/we-don-t-always-have-a-choice-how-we-get-to-know-one-another/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/john-irving-337_choice_we-don-t-always-have-a-choice-how-we-get_1330549.png) > [Grant us safe lodging, and holy rest,” Mrs. Grogan was saying, “and peace at last.” Amen, thought Wilbur Larch, the Saint of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/grant-us-safe-lodging-and-holy-rest-mrs-grogan-was-saying-and-peace/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/john-irving-337_addict_grant-us-safe-lodging-and-holy-rest-mrs_2061091.png) > [But I felt certain that if the world would stop indulging wars and famines and other perils, it would be possible for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/but-i-felt-certain-that-if-the-world-would-stop-indulging-wars-and/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5f/john-irving-337_believe_but-i-felt-certain-that-if-the-world-wou_1266517.png) > [He had heard her say, so many times, that a society that approved of making abortion illegal was a society that approved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/he-had-heard-her-say-so-many-times-that-a-society-that-approved-of/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/john-irving-337_abortion_he-had-heard-her-say-so-many-times-that_2278101.png) > [I have no respect for the right-to-life position, though I have every respect for an individual who says, "I could never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-have-no-respect-for-the-right-to-life-position-though-i-have-every/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/john-irving-337_book_i-have-no-respect-for-the-right-to-life_2057192.png) > [So, you see, it's a real chore for me to write a book review because it's like a contest. It's like I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/so-you-see-it-s-a-real-chore-for-me-to-write-a-book-review-because-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5d/john-irving-337_air_so-you-see-it-s-a-real-chore-for-me-to-w_1152495.jpg) > [It seems to me that people who don’t learn as easily as others suffer from a kind of learning disability—there is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-seems-to-me-that-people-who-don-t-learn-as-easily-as-others-suffer/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/john-irving-337_ability_it-seems-to-me-that-people-who-don-t-lea_555168.png) > [I want to go on being a student," I told him. "I want to be a teacher. I'm just a reader," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-want-to-go-on-being-a-student-i-told-him-i-want-to-be-a-teacher-i-m/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/john-irving-337_ashamed_i-want-to-go-on-being-a-student-i-told-h_722029.jpg) > [I have a process that I seem to always, to some degree, as a writer, adhere to, but I certainly have never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-have-a-process-that-i-seem-to-always-to-some-degree-as-a-writer/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08e/john-irving-337_clear_i-have-a-process-that-i-seem-to-always-t_1831176.png) > [When someone you love dies, and you're not expecting it, you don't lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/when-someone-you-love-dies-and-you-re-not-expecting-it-you-don-t-lose/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/john-irving-337_another-day_when-someone-you-love-dies-and-you-re-no_541169.png) > [Here is the trap you are in… And it's not my trap—I haven't trapped you. Because abortions are illegal, women who need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/here-is-the-trap-you-are-in-and-it-s-not-my-trap-i-haven-t-trapped/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63b/john-irving-337_abortion_here-is-the-trap-you-are-in-and-it-s-not_273515.jpg) > [Along the (writing) way accidents happen, detours get taken... But these are not "divine" accidents; I don't believe in those. I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/along-the-writing-way-accidents-happen-detours-get-taken-but-these/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/john-irving-337_accidents_along-the-writing-way-accidents-happen-d_2595367.png) ## Other authors on Way ## More by John Irving > [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean––make sure they know what they mean!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/watch-out-for-people-who-call-themselves-religious-make-sure-you-know/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I had been a student in Vienna, and one of the neat little things I had found out was about that zoo. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-had-been-a-student-in-vienna-and-one-of-the-neat-little-things-i/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“God, I think I just hit a high E-flat - and I really held it!" Esmeralda said, after one of her more prolonged orgasms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/god-i-think-i-just-hit-a-high-e-flat-and-i-really-held-it-esmeralda/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Nostalgia!" Miss Frost cried. "You´re nostalgic!" She repeated. "Just how old are you, William?" She asked. "Seventeen, " I told her. "Seventeen!" Miss Frost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/nostalgia-miss-frost-cried-you-re-nostalgic-she-repeated-just-how-old/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-better-writers-than-the-guys-who/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/it-is-much-easier-to-be-flexible-about-where-a-story-begins-than-it/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-re-nice-cushie-told-him-squeezing-his-hand-and-you-re-my-oldest/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Because of A Prayer for Owen Meany, many of my readers assume I am “religious.” I go to church only occasionally—like a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/because-of-a-prayer-for-owen-meany-many-of-my-readers-assume-i-am/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Did anyone who was in love and was unsatisfied with how he was loved in return ever feel saved?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/did-anyone-who-was-in-love-and-was-unsatisfied-with-how-he-was-loved/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-trust-that-god-will-help-me-because-what-i-m-supposed-to-do-looks/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/john-irving/#itemlist", "name": "22 Way Quotes By John Irving", "numberOfItems": 22, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way you get Americans to notice anything is to tax them or draft them or kill them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Irving" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-only-way-you-get-americans-to-notice-anything-is-to-tax-them-or/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/john-irving-337_americans_the-only-way-you-get-americans-to-notice_3132050.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/john-irving-337_americans_the-only-way-you-get-americans-to-notice_3132050.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/john-irving-337_americans_the-only-way-you-get-americans-to-notice_3132050.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way you get Americans to notice anything is to tax them or draft them or kill them.” — John Irving", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am compulsive about writing, I need to do it the way I need sleep and exercise and food and sex; I can go without it for a while, but then I need it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Irving" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-am-compulsive-about-writing-i-need-to-do-it-the-way-i-need-sleep/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/john-irving-337_compulsive_i-am-compulsive-about-writing-i-need-to_1885555.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/john-irving-337_compulsive_i-am-compulsive-about-writing-i-need-to_1885555.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/john-irving-337_compulsive_i-am-compulsive-about-writing-i-need-to_1885555.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am compulsive about writing, I need to do it the way I need sleep and exercise and food and sex; I can go…” — John Irving", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And when you love a book, commit one glorious sentence of it-perhaps your favorite sentence-to memory. 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If you have confidence that you have a clear direction to take, you always have confidence to explore other ways; if they prove to be mere digressions, you'll recognize that and make the necessary revisions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Irving" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-believe-you-have-constructive-accidents-en-route-through-a-novel/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/john-irving-337_accidents_i-believe-you-have-constructive-accident_2633918.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/john-irving-337_accidents_i-believe-you-have-constructive-accident_2633918.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/483/john-irving-337_accidents_i-believe-you-have-constructive-accident_2633918.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I believe you have constructive accidents en route through a novel only because you have mapped a clear way…” — John Irving", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I have any advantage, maybe, as a writer, it is that I don't think I'm very interesting. 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I'm just a reader,\" I said. \"DON'T SOUND SO ASHAMED,\" he said. \"READING IS A GIFT.\" \"I learned it from you,\" I told him. \"IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LEARNED IT- IT'S A GIFT. IF YOU CARE ABOUT SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO PROTECT IT. 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Because abortions are illegal, women who need and want them have no choice in the matter, and you—because you know how to perform them—have no choice, either. What has been violated here is your freedom of choice, and every woman's freedom of choice, too. If abortion was legal, a woman would have a choice—and so would you. You could feel free not to do it because someone else would. But the way it is, you're trapped. Women are trapped. 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