The more clearly one sees this world; the more one is obliged to pretend it does not exist. — John Irving Doe Copy Share Image
Sometimes that's a year, sometimes it's 18 months, where all I'm doing is taking notes. I'm reconstructing the story from the back… — John Irving Months Copy Share Image
What do Americans know about morality? They don't want their presidents to have penises but they don't mind if their presidents covertly… — John Irving Aids Copy Share Image
The book works better if I know everything I can about the ending. Not just what happens, but how it happens and… — John Irving Book Copy Share Image
“It was not the cold that made you want to rush out as soon as you'd jumped in; it was the unmeasured… — John Irving Fear Copy Share Image
A truly happy woman drives some men and almost every other woman absolutely crazy — John Irving Crazy Copy Share Image
“The time to read Madame Bovary is when your romantic hopes and desires have crashed, and you will believe that your future… — John Irving Future relationship Copy Share Image
Plot is a map and I begin with it. It is what made me admire the novels of the 19th century; that… — John Irving 19th century Copy Share Image
“The two old secretaries conversed in the manner of hostile but toothless male dogs.” — John Irving Copy Share Image
“A person's faith goes at its own pace. The trouble with church is the service. A service is conducted for a mass… — John Irving Catholic Copy Share Image
“As often as I feel certain that God exists, I feel as often at a loss to say what difference it makes—that… — John Irving Believe in god Copy Share Image
“Did Owen say your grandmother was a banshee?" "He said she was 'wailing like a banshee,'" I explained. Dan got out the… — John Irving First time Copy Share Image
“people can’t, unhappily, invent their mooring posts, their lovers and their friends, anymore than they can invent their parents.” — John Irving Parenting Copy Share Image
As it was, things went from bad to worse, as they often will when amateurs are involved in an activity that they… — John Irving Bad temper Copy Share Image
“Hang in there, Frank!' Freud called - to the entire lobby. 'Don't let anyone tell you you're queer! You're a prince, Frank!'… — John Irving Copy Share Image
“Your disapproval is noted. It is legitimate. You are welcome to disapprove. But you are not welcome to be ignorant, to look… — John Irving Psychology Copy Share Image
Lilly was not crazy. She left a serious suicide note. 'Sorry,' said the note. 'Just not big enough. — John Irving Bigs Copy Share Image
“It's long been a point of mine that the freedom of religion, which this country alleges to support, works two ways. We're… — John Irving Freedom Copy Share Image
You take every opportunity given you in this world, even if you have too many opportunities. One day, the opportunities stop, you… — John Irving Given Copy Share Image
Owen Meany believed that “coincidence” was a stupid, shallow refuge sought by stupid, shallow people who were unable to accept the fact… — John Irving Accepting Copy Share Image
“You're not like anyone else, Billy - that's what's the matter with you," Donna said.” — John Irving Copy Share Image
THERE'S NO MONKEY BUSINESS ABOUT THIS ELECTION,' he told the voters. 'IF YOU'RE ENOUGH OF AN ASSHOLE TO VOTE FOR NIXON, YOUR… — John Irving Business Copy Share Image
“According to my mother, I was a fiction writer before I'd written any ficton, by wich she meant not only that I… — John Irving Parenting Copy Share Image
