Gossip. The more you talk about why people do things, the more ideas you have about how the world works. — Jane Smiley Gossip Copy Share Image
A novelist is on the cusp between someone who knows everything and someone who knows nothing. — Jane Smiley Cusp Copy Share Image
“Almonds. Apricots. Avocadoes. Some peaches I don't know. Grapefruit. Lemones. Probably oranges.” — Jane Smiley Almonds Copy Share Image
The desire to write a novel is the single required prerequisite for writing a novel. — Jane Smiley Books Copy Share Image
As soon as you bring up money, I notice, conversation gets sociological, then political, then moral. — Jane Smiley Communication Copy Share Image
“It is hard to know whether an air of self-confidence precedes or follows success.” — Jane Smiley Confidence Copy Share Image
The thing about Republicans is that they don't care so much about respect, but they love fear, at least in others. — Jane Smiley Care Copy Share Image
With preference came point of view; with point of view, personality; with personality, uniqueness; with uniqueness, grief. — Jane Smiley Aging Copy Share Image
Another thing I learned is that novels, even those from apparently distant times and places, remain current and enlightening, and also comforting. — Jane Smiley Another Copy Share Image
“I had a burden lift off me that I hadn't even felt the heaviness of until then, and it was the burden… — Jane Smiley Burden Copy Share Image
My characters never die screaming in rage. They attempt to pull themselves back together and go on. And that's basically a conservative… — Jane Smiley Anger Copy Share Image
Art doesn't exist if you just do what you're told. It only exists as an exercise of individual taste and freedom. — Jane Smiley Art Copy Share Image
A novelist has two lives-- a reading and writing life, and a lived life. he or she cannot be understood at all… — Jane Smiley Life Copy Share Image
There weren't too many books by women that were taught in school, so I read those on my own, and the books… — Jane Smiley Book Copy Share Image
There are hundreds of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings around the United States and in other countries, too. Wright lived into his 90s,… — Jane Smiley Building Copy Share Image
I was asked by an editor to consider writing something about an American inventor. I asked him if he knew who invented… — Jane Smiley American Copy Share Image
“She did not think it any coincidence that ideas denigrating literary authorship had taken center stage simultaneously with the emergence of formerly… — Jane Smiley Center stage Copy Share Image
If novels and stories are bulletins from the progressive states of ignorance a writer passes through over the years, observations and opinions… — Jane Smiley Books Copy Share Image
“The real mystery was how your farm bound you to it, so tightly that you would pay any price (literally, in interest)… — Jane Smiley Farm Copy Share Image
Every novel deals with social problems. It can't help it because the protagonist must come in conflict with his group. So the… — Jane Smiley Analysis Copy Share Image
Is human nature basically good or evil? No economist can embark upon his profession without considering this question, and yet they all… — Jane Smiley Considering Copy Share Image
One of the things that Ivar knew about Mrs. Walker was that she would only tell him what she knew if he… — Jane Smiley Asks Copy Share Image
“...and that's how the tournament started, the Million Dollar World Series of Monopoly... ...Jess and Pete thought alike -- like city boys,… — Jane Smiley Monopoly Copy Share Image
The novel as a form is usually seen to be moral if its readers consider freedom, individuality, democracy, privacy, social connection, tolerance… — Jane Smiley Adherence Copy Share Image
“Leaving any bookstore is hard, especially on a day in August, when the street outside burns and glares, and the books inside… — Jane Smiley Books Copy Share Image
You know what getting married is? It's agreeing to taking this person who right now is at the top of his form,… — Jane Smiley Bed Copy Share Image
In his 30 years of broadcasting and publishing fiction, Garrison Keillor has set the laugh bar pretty high. — Jane Smiley Bar Copy Share Image
Sinclair Lewis may be ripe for a revival; his books raise several interesting issues of art and fashion. — Jane Smiley Art Copy Share Image
I don't know - is everything the U.S. does a shocking embarrassment? — Jane Smiley Doe Copy Share Image
As Fallingwater demonstrates, Wright's genius was always specific, but also always lively, always daring. — Jane Smiley Always Copy Share Image
“In this flirtation he was conducting, he had had to rely entirely on his personality, never a good idea.” — Jane Smiley Flirtation Copy Share Image
I suspected that there were things he knew that I had been waiting all my life to learn. — Jane Smiley Knew Copy Share Image
Like most of the educated, I do harbor a fondness for the sins of my ignorant past. — Jane Smiley Educated Copy Share Image
