---
title: "Best Writer Quotes by George Saunders"
description: "90 Writer quotes by George Saunders. Plus more from George Saunders and more Writer sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/george-saunders-317_book_the-greatest-thing-about-writing-a-book_708357.jpg"
---

> [The greatest thing about writing a book is that at first it's all inchoate, but the more you work on it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-greatest-thing-about-writing-a-book-is-that-at-first-it-s-all/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/george-saunders-317_book_the-greatest-thing-about-writing-a-book_708357.jpg)

> [“A house on the park. He'd seen it a million times. And now was in it. It smelled of man sweat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/a-house-on-the-park-he-d-seen-it-a-million-times-and-now-was-in-it-it/)

[george saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/045/george-saunders-317_books_a-house-on-the-park-he-d-seen-it-a-milli_1318265.jpg)

> [If you think of a work of fiction as a kind of scale model of the world, then the positive valences -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/if-you-think-of-a-work-of-fiction-as-a-kind-of-scale-model-of-the/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b10/george-saunders-317_fiction_if-you-think-of-a-work-of-fiction-as-a-k_2736259.jpg)

> [There's a really nice moment in the life of a piece of writing where the writer starts to get a feeling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/there-s-a-really-nice-moment-in-the-life-of-a-piece-of-writing-where/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bc/george-saunders-317_desire_there-s-a-really-nice-moment-in-the-life_2750609.jpg)

> [As a fiction writer, one of things you learn is God lives in specificity. You know, human kindness is increased as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/as-a-fiction-writer-one-of-things-you-learn-is-god-lives-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f9/george-saunders-317_fiction_as-a-fiction-writer-one-of-things-you-le_240474.jpg)

> [Maybe you could even think 100,000 people are inside each human being. And you drop a novel on that person, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/maybe-you-could-even-think-100-000-people-are-inside-each-human-being/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e50/george-saunders-317_alive_maybe-you-could-even-think-100-000-peopl_629130.jpg)

> [“Fiction is an urgent business. It is the Dying Us telling stories to the Dying Us, trying to crack the nonsense in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/fiction-is-an-urgent-business-it-is-the-dying-us-telling-stories-to/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a7/george-saunders-317_business_fiction-is-an-urgent-business-it-is-the_2644778.jpg)

> [When you're embarking on a piece of writing, the anxiety is just too much, especially when you're young and you're trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/when-you-re-embarking-on-a-piece-of-writing-the-anxiety-is-just-too/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/george-saunders-317_anxiety_when-you-re-embarking-on-a-piece-of-writ_624905.jpg)

> [That underscored this idea that when we're reading a book or writing a book, you're in an act of co-creation. The reader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/that-underscored-this-idea-that-when-we-re-reading-a-book-or-writing/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/george-saunders-317_book_that-underscored-this-idea-that-when-we_1446613.jpg)

> [To me, the writer's main job is to just make the story unscroll in such a way that the reader is snared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/to-me-the-writer-s-main-job-is-to-just-make-the-story-unscroll-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/george-saunders-317_books_to-me-the-writer-s-main-job-is-to-just-m_517274.jpg)

> [I think fiction isn't so good at being for or against things in general - the rhetorical argument a short story can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-fiction-isn-t-so-good-at-being-for-or-against-things-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/george-saunders-317_application_i-think-fiction-isn-t-so-good-at-being-f_1644926.jpg)

> [I haven't written a novel or something that long, because I really am improvising all along and the story is growing new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-haven-t-written-a-novel-or-something-that-long-because-i-really-am/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/george-saunders-317_america_i-haven-t-written-a-novel-or-something-t_2231086.jpg)

> [“The writer,' said Donald Barthelme, 'is one who, embarking upon a task, does not know what to do.' In this mode of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-writer-said-donald-barthelme-is-one-who-embarking-upon-a-task/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/689/george-saunders-317_psychology_the-writer-said-donald-barthelme-is-one_2470583.jpg)

> [I think the trick of being a writer is to basically put your cards out there all the time and be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-the-trick-of-being-a-writer-is-to-basically-put-your-cards/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/george-saunders-317_books_i-think-the-trick-of-being-a-writer-is-t_1089473.jpg)

> [Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes, Literature answers. Are people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/fiction-is-a-kind-of-compassion-generating-machine-that-saves-us-from-2/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/george-saunders-317_answers_fiction-is-a-kind-of-compassion-generati_2687483.jpg)

> [“Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes, Literature answers. Are people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/fiction-is-a-kind-of-compassion-generating-machine-that-saves-us-from/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/george-saunders-317_books_fiction-is-a-kind-of-compassion-generati_1108786.jpg)

> [I am always considering the reader. Although this is admittedly kind of odd: Which reader? On what day? In what mood? For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-am-always-considering-the-reader-although-this-is-admittedly-kind/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e69/george-saunders-317_books_i-am-always-considering-the-reader-altho_397206.jpg)

> [I think that's one of the maybe under-discussed aspects of process - the difference between a good writing day and a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-maybe-under-discussed-aspects-of-process/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/george-saunders-317_aspect_i-think-that-s-one-of-the-maybe-under-di_67783.jpg)

> [Writing and reading and speaking with specificity and skill has never seen more important to me than it does at this moment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/writing-and-reading-and-speaking-with-specificity-and-skill-has-never/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ee/george-saunders-317_chaos_writing-and-reading-and-speaking-with-sp_2646906.jpg)

> [I love the idea that more people would read short fiction. I think it's such a humanizing form. It softens the boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-love-the-idea-that-more-people-would-read-short-fiction-i-think-it/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d26/george-saunders-317_boundaries_i-love-the-idea-that-more-people-would-r_1216232.jpg)

> [Writing a story I am just trying to find some little interesting thing to start out with: something small, even trivial. Preferably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/writing-a-story-i-am-just-trying-to-find-some-little-interesting/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b0/george-saunders-317_baggage_writing-a-story-i-am-just-trying-to-find_766056.jpg)

> [As far as which writers embody this form of gentle power - Tobias Wolff, for sure. His persona and his writing both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/as-far-as-which-writers-embody-this-form-of-gentle-power-tobias-wolff/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/george-saunders-317_books_as-far-as-which-writers-embody-this-form_1571075.jpg)

> [Whenever you talk about writing I think you have to remember that it all has a big question mark over it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whenever-you-talk-about-writing-i-think-you-have-to-remember-that-it/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d93/george-saunders-317_big-questions_whenever-you-talk-about-writing-i-think_1441931.jpg)

> [Reading is a form of prayer, a guided meditation that briefly makes us believe we're someone else, disrupting the delusion that we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/reading-is-a-form-of-prayer-a-guided-meditation-that-briefly-makes-us/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/george-saunders-317_believe_reading-is-a-form-of-prayer-a-guided-med_733158.jpg)

> [ I believe that, when \[meeting of writer and reader\] happens and the reader goes out into the world the next day, there's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-believe-that-when-meeting-of-writer-and-reader-happens-and-the/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/george-saunders-317_alterations_i-believe-that-when-meeting-of-writer-an_2524233.jpg)

> [I think the trick of being a writer is to basically put your cards out there all the time and be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-the-trick-of-being-a-writer-is-to-basically-put-your-cards-2/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/george-saunders-317_books_i-think-the-trick-of-being-a-writer-is-t_2616659.jpg)

> [Every writer knows that when you're imitating somebody - you know, you're sounding like Faulkner - you're doing pretty good, but your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/every-writer-knows-that-when-you-re-imitating-somebody-you-know-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3c/george-saunders-317_hoboken_every-writer-knows-that-when-you-re-imit_139095.jpg)

> [I think that feels like it to me. I mean whenever you talk about writing I think you have to remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-that-feels-like-it-to-me-i-mean-whenever-you-talk-about/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99a/george-saunders-317_mean_i-think-that-feels-like-it-to-me-i-mean_2755823.jpg)

> [I've found that my first drafts are not so special. But the more I work on them, the better they get. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-ve-found-that-my-first-drafts-are-not-so-special-but-the-more-i/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/070/george-saunders-317_drafts_i-ve-found-that-my-first-drafts-are-not_629783.jpg)

> [“I was thinking the other day about the idea that you have a reader and a writer, and they’re different and they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-was-thinking-the-other-day-about-the-idea-that-you-have-a-reader/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/522/george-saunders-317_books_i-was-thinking-the-other-day-about-the-i_479452.jpg)

> [The chances of a person breaking through their own habits and sloth and limited mind to actually write something that gets out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-chances-of-a-person-breaking-through-their-own-habits-and-sloth/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad2/george-saunders-317_chance_the-chances-of-a-person-breaking-through_448365.jpg)

> [When I'm not writing, I tend to get depressed and a little bit surly. And then when I'm writing, suddenly I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/when-i-m-not-writing-i-tend-to-get-depressed-and-a-little-bit-surly/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/george-saunders-317_bits_when-i-m-not-writing-i-tend-to-get-depre_1634653.jpg)

> [I'm not a big fan of my books going on cross-country road trips. They get arrogant and, next thing, start aspiring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-my-books-going-on-cross-country-road-trips-they/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/george-saunders-317_arrogant_i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-my-books-going-on-c_1568608.jpg)

> [ From the beginning \[of the Lincoln in the Bardo\], I actually had it in mind not to write a novel. I'd kind… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/from-the-beginning-of-the-lincoln-in-the-bardo-i-actually-had-it-in/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/843/george-saunders-317_books_from-the-beginning-of-the-lincoln-in-the_3136511.jpg)

> [Whatever you love, that will be an influence. It just will. So in effect the young writer's job is: go out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whatever-you-love-that-will-be-an-influence-it-just-will-so-in-effect/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74f/george-saunders-317_effects_whatever-you-love-that-will-be-an-influe_3206160.jpg)

> [I think the path for a young writer might be one that says, "I have to accept myself, this is what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-the-path-for-a-young-writer-might-be-one-that-says-i-have-to/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ce/george-saunders-317_accepting_i-think-the-path-for-a-young-writer-migh_189378.jpg)

> [“There’s a vast underground network for goodness at work in this world—a web of people who’ve put reading at the center of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/there-s-a-vast-underground-network-for-goodness-at-work-in-this-world/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/george-saunders-317_book-lovers_there-s-a-vast-underground-network-for-g_473587.jpg)

> [Honestly, the choice is: I can be a cheerful person, more awake to correction, more of a force for good ... when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/honestly-the-choice-is-i-can-be-a-cheerful-person-more-awake-to/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/george-saunders-317_awake_honestly-the-choice-is-i-can-be-a-cheerf_1831209.jpg)

> [In a sense my whole life as a writer is trying to find structural ways, or formal ways, to permit that outflowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-a-sense-my-whole-life-as-a-writer-is-trying-to-find-structural/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/george-saunders-317_can-do_in-a-sense-my-whole-life-as-a-writer-is_332037.jpg)

> [Intelligent, heartfelt stories that tell a whole new set of truths about growing up American. Julie Orringer writes with virtuosity and depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/intelligent-heartfelt-stories-that-tell-a-whole-new-set-of-truths/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/679/george-saunders-317_childhood_intelligent-heartfelt-stories-that-tell_2387702.jpg)

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## More by George Saunders

> [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“Wow wow wow is all I can say! Remember how I always buy lunchtime Scratch-Off ticket? Have I said? Maybe did not say? Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/wow-wow-wow-is-all-i-can-say-remember-how-i-always-buy-lunchtime/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“We must see God not as a Him (some linear rewarding fellow) but an IT, a great beast beyond our understanding, who wants something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-must-see-god-not-as-a-him-some-linear-rewarding-fellow-but-an-it-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [America, to me, should be shouting all the time, a bunch of shouting voices, most of them wrong, some of them nuts, but please,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/america-to-me-should-be-shouting-all-the-time-a-bunch-of-shouting/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [Whatever your supposed politics are - left, right - if you put it in a human connection, most people will rise to the occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whatever-your-supposed-politics-are-left-right-if-you-put-it-in-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“A Clinton staffer tells me his theory. Think about Frank Sinatra, he says: born to sing. Think about Willie Mays: born to play ball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/a-clinton-staffer-tells-me-his-theory-think-about-frank-sinatra-he/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [What America is, to me, is a guy doesn't want to buy, you let him not buy, you respect his not buying. A guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-america-is-to-me-is-a-guy-doesn-t-want-to-buy-you-let-him-not/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [What good the prophet in the wilderness may do is incremental and personal. It's good for us to hear someone speak the irrational truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-good-the-prophet-in-the-wilderness-may-do-is-incremental-and/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [We're in the transition between birth and death. But the one that people often know about is the transition between the moment of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-re-in-the-transition-between-birth-and-death-but-the-one-that/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [You don't want to be that parent - the one who dresses his kid in a cloth sack when all the other kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-don-t-want-to-be-that-parent-the-one-who-dresses-his-kid-in-a/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

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                        "text": "As far as which writers embody this form of gentle power - Tobias Wolff, for sure. His persona and his writing both share an easy, capacious confidence that says he has faith in his readers.",
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                        "text": "From the beginning [of the Lincoln in the Bardo], I actually had it in mind not to write a novel. I'd kind of gotten past that point where I felt bad for never having written a novel, even to where I felt really good about it, like I was a real purist.",
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