--- title: "184 Richard Ford Quotes - Famous Researcher (The sportswriter)" description: "Richard Ford quotes on hope, writing effort, and adult conversation influence." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b098/author-richard-ford-2097.jpg" --- ![Portrait of Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b098/author-richard-ford-2097.jpg) # Richard Ford (1944) Researcher United States **184** quotes in **634** categories Richard Ford notes that if you lose all hope, you can find it again. He says writing never comes naturally and often feels like a forced habit. He also observes that talking with adults outside family can shape ideas more than parental words. Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet Richard Ford is a researcher from the United States, best known for *The sportswriter*. ## Quick Facts About Richard Ford Born February 16, 1944 Nationality United States Profession Researcher Notable works The sportswriter Known for Canada, Wildlife, Rock Springs ## About Richard Ford Richard Ford is an American novelist and short‑story author best known for a series of novels featuring the character Frank Bascombe. ## Awards & Honors Lucien Barrière Literary Award honorary doctor of the University of Rennes 2 Q24930544 Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature Pulitzer Prize for Fiction PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction PEN/Malamud Award Guggenheim Fellowship Show 4 more awards Princess of Asturias Literary Prize Prix Femina étranger Q16995068 Siegfried Lenz Prize ## Quotes by Richard Ford > [Tweet, tweet, you're alive, you ignorant asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/tweet-tweet-you-re-alive-you-ignorant-asshole/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/richard-ford-2097_alive_tweet-tweet-you-re-alive-you-ignorant-as_2045963.png) > [I get very involved in the internal logic of sentences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-get-very-involved-in-the-internal-logic-of-sentences/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/richard-ford-2097_internal_i-get-very-involved-in-the-internal-logi_619887.png) > [“Most things dopn't stay the way they are very long.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/most-things-dopn-t-stay-the-way-they-are-very-long/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/richard-ford-2097_long_most-things-dopn-t-stay-the-way-they-are_2226845.png) > [If you lose all hope, you can always find it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/if-you-lose-all-hope-you-can-always-find-it-again/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/richard-ford-2097_hope_if-you-lose-all-hope-you-can-always-find_32935.png) > [You're only good if you can do bad and decide not to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/you-re-only-good-if-you-can-do-bad-and-decide-not-to/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/richard-ford-2097_decide_you-re-only-good-if-you-can-do-bad-and-d_719614.png) > [Most things don't stay the way they are very long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/most-things-don-t-stay-the-way-they-are-very-long/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/richard-ford-2097_long_most-things-don-t-stay-the-way-they-are_1179007.png) > [With imagination, you can put something where nothing was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/with-imagination-you-can-put-something-where-nothing-was/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/richard-ford-2097_imagination_with-imagination-you-can-put-something-w_1800461.png) > [She was an artist. She held opposites in her mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/she-was-an-artist-she-held-opposites-in-her-mind/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/707/richard-ford-2097_art_she-was-an-artist-she-held-opposites-in_1134572.png) > [Writing never came naturally and I still have to force my hand to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/writing-never-came-naturally-and-i-still-have-to-force-my-hand-to-do/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/richard-ford-2097_force_writing-never-came-naturally-and-i-still_133904.png) > [The ways in which things are superficially similar but also distinct is interesting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-ways-in-which-things-are-superficially-similar-but-also-distinct/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c9/richard-ford-2097_interesting_the-ways-in-which-things-are-superficial_1089157.png) > [The world is a more engaging and less dramatic place than writers ever give it credit for being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-world-is-a-more-engaging-and-less-dramatic-place-than-writers/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/richard-ford-2097_credit_the-world-is-a-more-engaging-and-less-dr_2323066.png) > [Love isn’t a thing, after all, but an endless series of single acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/love-isn-t-a-thing-after-all-but-an-endless-series-of-single-acts/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/richard-ford-2097_endless_love-isn-t-a-thing-after-all-but-an-endl_2956508.png) > [“People surprise you, Frank, with just how fuckin stupid they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/people-surprise-you-frank-with-just-how-fuckin-stupid-they-are/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/richard-ford-2097_people_people-surprise-you-frank-with-just-how_398152.png) > [My father died in my arms. That's tumult. That's everything exploding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/my-father-died-in-my-arms-that-s-tumult-that-s-everything-exploding/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/richard-ford-2097_arms_my-father-died-in-my-arms-that-s-tumult_515481.png) > [I started reading literature at 17 or 18, and I felt this extra beat to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-started-reading-literature-at-17-or-18-and-i-felt-this-extra-beat/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/richard-ford-2097_beats_i-started-reading-literature-at-17-or-18_103829.png) > [Maybe I'm a serial regional writer. First here, then there, across the map.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/maybe-i-m-a-serial-regional-writer-first-here-then-there-across-the/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/richard-ford-2097_firsts_maybe-i-m-a-serial-regional-writer-first_3000638.png) > [“All this is a natural part of the aging process, in which you find yourself with less to do and more opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/all-this-is-a-natural-part-of-the-aging-process-in-which-you-find/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/richard-ford-2097_aging_all-this-is-a-natural-part-of-the-aging_1519241.png) > [At the exact moment any decision seems to be being made, it's usually long after the real decision was actually made--like light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/at-the-exact-moment-any-decision-seems-to-be-being-made-it-s-usually/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/richard-ford-2097_decision_at-the-exact-moment-any-decision-seems-t_3178157.png) > [“If there's another thing that sportswriting teaches you, it is that there are no transcendent themes in life. In all cases things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/if-there-s-another-thing-that-sportswriting-teaches-you-it-is-that-2/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/richard-ford-2097_cases_if-there-s-another-thing-that-sportswrit_2773852.png) > [I want saner gun laws. I think all these automatic weapons should be banned, big clips and handguns should be banned. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-want-saner-gun-laws-i-think-all-these-automatic-weapons-should-be/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/richard-ford-2097_amendment_i-want-saner-gun-laws-i-think-all-these_989040.jpg) > [What was our life like? I almost don't remember now. Though I remember it, the space of time it occupied. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/what-was-our-life-like-i-almost-don-t-remember-now-though-i-remember/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/richard-ford-2097_life_what-was-our-life-like-i-almost-don-t-re_2395499.png) > [I'm not one of those people who as a writer lets my characters tell me what they want to do or call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-as-a-writer-lets-my-characters-tell/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/richard-ford-2097_agents_i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-as-a-wri_2835875.png) > [I haven't scoured Dixie out of my voice. But I don't think that the books that I have written... have really in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-haven-t-scoured-dixie-out-of-my-voice-but-i-don-t-think-that-the/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/richard-ford-2097_any_i-haven-t-scoured-dixie-out-of-my-voice_591090.png) > [For a writer, children make life needlessly hard. I've muddled through a lot of things, but I have not muddled through my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/for-a-writer-children-make-life-needlessly-hard-i-ve-muddled-through/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e3/richard-ford-2097_absolutely_for-a-writer-children-make-life-needless_795795.png) > [There are more people in America that love guns and want guns for themselves and everyone else than there are not. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/there-are-more-people-in-america-that-love-guns-and-want-guns-for/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/richard-ford-2097_amendment_there-are-more-people-in-america-that-lo_201895.png) > [The past is the prism through which we see a great, great, great deal of ourselves; it's a useful prism. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-past-is-the-prism-through-which-we-see-a-great-great-great-deal/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/richard-ford-2097_mean_the-past-is-the-prism-through-which-we-s_635460.png) > [I think that's the thing that memoir can do more than anything it does; it testifies and bears witness to the existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-think-that-s-the-thing-that-memoir-can-do-more-than-anything-it/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/richard-ford-2097_done_i-think-that-s-the-thing-that-memoir-can_2715659.jpg) > [Some people think that writers are innately solitary and that there's a kind of romance to that solitariness. I tend to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/some-people-think-that-writers-are-innately-solitary-and-that-there-s/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/richard-ford-2097_accepted_some-people-think-that-writers-are-innat_1134095.png) > [“And since that is not how it has been for a long time, you want, this time, to make it last, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/and-since-that-is-not-how-it-has-been-for-a-long-time-you-want-this/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/151/richard-ford-2097_feeling_and-since-that-is-not-how-it-has-been-fo_2523061.png) > [I'm dyslexic. If you can reconcile yourself to not being able to burn through books, which you shouldn't any way, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-m-dyslexic-if-you-can-reconcile-yourself-to-not-being-able-to-burn/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/richard-ford-2097_able_i-m-dyslexic-if-you-can-reconcile-yourse_1319897.png) > [“Some things can't be explained. They just are. And after a while they disappear, usually forever, or become interesting in another way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/some-things-can-t-be-explained-they-just-are-and-after-a-while-they/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/richard-ford-2097_books_some-things-can-t-be-explained-they-just_1208012.jpg) > [A reader is entitled to believe what he or she believes is consonant with the facts of the book. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/a-reader-is-entitled-to-believe-what-he-or-she-believes-is-consonant/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/richard-ford-2097_agree_a-reader-is-entitled-to-believe-what-he_783930.jpg) > [“She said that it was a mistake to have made as few superficial friends as I have done in my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/she-said-that-it-was-a-mistake-to-have-made-as-few-superficial/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/richard-ford-2097_children_she-said-that-it-was-a-mistake-to-have-m_3071451.png) > [“The kind of happy I was that day at the Vet when "Hawk" Dawson actually doffed his red "C" cap to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-kind-of-happy-i-was-that-day-at-the-vet-when-hawk-dawson-actually/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/richard-ford-2097_comedy_the-kind-of-happy-i-was-that-day-at-the_2883626.png) > [Being a slow reader would normally be a deficiency; I found a way to make it an asset. I began to sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/being-a-slow-reader-would-normally-be-a-deficiency-i-found-a-way-to/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/richard-ford-2097_books_being-a-slow-reader-would-normally-be-a_817753.png) > [It's been my habit of mind, over these years, to understand that every situation in which human beings are involved can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/it-s-been-my-habit-of-mind-over-these-years-to-understand-that-every/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/richard-ford-2097_being-true_it-s-been-my-habit-of-mind-over-these-ye_1508343.png) > [“She looked at me and the expression on her face was an expression of dislike, one I hadn't seen before but knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/she-looked-at-me-and-the-expression-on-her-face-was-an-expression-of/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/richard-ford-2097_dislike_she-looked-at-me-and-the-expression-on-h_2222975.png) > [“And now, while he didn't particularly think any of these stories was a bit truer, he did realize that he didn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/and-now-while-he-didn-t-particularly-think-any-of-these-stories-was-a/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-in-love/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/richard-ford-2097_falling-in-love_and-now-while-he-didn-t-particularly-thi_2762729.png) > [When you are sixteen you do not know what your parents know, or much of what they understand, and less of what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/when-you-are-sixteen-you-do-not-know-what-your-parents-know-or-much/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/richard-ford-2097_adults_when-you-are-sixteen-you-do-not-know-wha_783112.png) > [“It was as if they'd discovered something that had once been there but had gotten hidden or misunderstood or forgotten over time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/it-was-as-if-they-d-discovered-something-that-had-once-been-there-but/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Anxiety and worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-and-worry/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/richard-ford-2097_anxiety-and-worry_it-was-as-if-they-d-discovered-something_2621995.png) ## Richard Ford by topic [Life (49)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/richard-ford/) [Writing (30)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/richard-ford/) [Time (22)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/richard-ford/) [Books (21)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/richard-ford/) [Writer (20)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/richard-ford/) [People (16)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/richard-ford/) [Thinking (14)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/richard-ford/) [Parenting (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/richard-ford/) [Marriage (10)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/richard-ford/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/#itemlist", "name": "Richard Ford Quotes", "numberOfItems": 40, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Tweet, tweet, you're alive, you ignorant asshole.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/tweet-tweet-you-re-alive-you-ignorant-asshole/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/richard-ford-2097_alive_tweet-tweet-you-re-alive-you-ignorant-as_2045963.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/richard-ford-2097_alive_tweet-tweet-you-re-alive-you-ignorant-as_2045963.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/richard-ford-2097_alive_tweet-tweet-you-re-alive-you-ignorant-as_2045963.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tweet, tweet, you're alive, you ignorant asshole.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I get very involved in the internal logic of sentences.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-get-very-involved-in-the-internal-logic-of-sentences/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/richard-ford-2097_internal_i-get-very-involved-in-the-internal-logi_619887.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/richard-ford-2097_internal_i-get-very-involved-in-the-internal-logi_619887.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/richard-ford-2097_internal_i-get-very-involved-in-the-internal-logi_619887.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I get very involved in the internal logic of sentences.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most things dopn't stay the way they are very long.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/most-things-dopn-t-stay-the-way-they-are-very-long/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/richard-ford-2097_long_most-things-dopn-t-stay-the-way-they-are_2226845.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/richard-ford-2097_long_most-things-dopn-t-stay-the-way-they-are_2226845.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/richard-ford-2097_long_most-things-dopn-t-stay-the-way-they-are_2226845.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most things dopn't stay the way they are very long.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you lose all hope, you can always find it again.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/if-you-lose-all-hope-you-can-always-find-it-again/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/richard-ford-2097_hope_if-you-lose-all-hope-you-can-always-find_32935.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/richard-ford-2097_hope_if-you-lose-all-hope-you-can-always-find_32935.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/richard-ford-2097_hope_if-you-lose-all-hope-you-can-always-find_32935.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you lose all hope, you can always find it again.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You're only good if you can do bad and decide not to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/you-re-only-good-if-you-can-do-bad-and-decide-not-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/richard-ford-2097_decide_you-re-only-good-if-you-can-do-bad-and-d_719614.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/richard-ford-2097_decide_you-re-only-good-if-you-can-do-bad-and-d_719614.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8d/richard-ford-2097_decide_you-re-only-good-if-you-can-do-bad-and-d_719614.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You're only good if you can do bad and decide not to.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most things don't stay the way they are very long.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/most-things-don-t-stay-the-way-they-are-very-long/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/richard-ford-2097_long_most-things-don-t-stay-the-way-they-are_1179007.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/richard-ford-2097_long_most-things-don-t-stay-the-way-they-are_1179007.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a51/richard-ford-2097_long_most-things-don-t-stay-the-way-they-are_1179007.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most things don't stay the way they are very long.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "With imagination, you can put something where nothing was.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/with-imagination-you-can-put-something-where-nothing-was/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/richard-ford-2097_imagination_with-imagination-you-can-put-something-w_1800461.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/richard-ford-2097_imagination_with-imagination-you-can-put-something-w_1800461.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/richard-ford-2097_imagination_with-imagination-you-can-put-something-w_1800461.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“With imagination, you can put something where nothing was.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "She was an artist. She held opposites in her mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/she-was-an-artist-she-held-opposites-in-her-mind/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/707/richard-ford-2097_art_she-was-an-artist-she-held-opposites-in_1134572.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/707/richard-ford-2097_art_she-was-an-artist-she-held-opposites-in_1134572.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/707/richard-ford-2097_art_she-was-an-artist-she-held-opposites-in_1134572.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She was an artist. She held opposites in her mind.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing never came naturally and I still have to force my hand to do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/writing-never-came-naturally-and-i-still-have-to-force-my-hand-to-do/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/richard-ford-2097_force_writing-never-came-naturally-and-i-still_133904.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/richard-ford-2097_force_writing-never-came-naturally-and-i-still_133904.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c7/richard-ford-2097_force_writing-never-came-naturally-and-i-still_133904.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Writing never came naturally and I still have to force my hand to do it.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The ways in which things are superficially similar but also distinct is interesting to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-ways-in-which-things-are-superficially-similar-but-also-distinct/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c9/richard-ford-2097_interesting_the-ways-in-which-things-are-superficial_1089157.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c9/richard-ford-2097_interesting_the-ways-in-which-things-are-superficial_1089157.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c9/richard-ford-2097_interesting_the-ways-in-which-things-are-superficial_1089157.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The ways in which things are superficially similar but also distinct is interesting to me.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The world is a more engaging and less dramatic place than writers ever give it credit for being", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-world-is-a-more-engaging-and-less-dramatic-place-than-writers/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/richard-ford-2097_credit_the-world-is-a-more-engaging-and-less-dr_2323066.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/richard-ford-2097_credit_the-world-is-a-more-engaging-and-less-dr_2323066.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/richard-ford-2097_credit_the-world-is-a-more-engaging-and-less-dr_2323066.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The world is a more engaging and less dramatic place than writers ever give it credit for being” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Love isn’t a thing, after all, but an endless series of single acts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/love-isn-t-a-thing-after-all-but-an-endless-series-of-single-acts/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/richard-ford-2097_endless_love-isn-t-a-thing-after-all-but-an-endl_2956508.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/richard-ford-2097_endless_love-isn-t-a-thing-after-all-but-an-endl_2956508.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3d/richard-ford-2097_endless_love-isn-t-a-thing-after-all-but-an-endl_2956508.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Love isn’t a thing, after all, but an endless series of single acts.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People surprise you, Frank, with just how fuckin stupid they are.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/people-surprise-you-frank-with-just-how-fuckin-stupid-they-are/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/richard-ford-2097_people_people-surprise-you-frank-with-just-how_398152.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/richard-ford-2097_people_people-surprise-you-frank-with-just-how_398152.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f31/richard-ford-2097_people_people-surprise-you-frank-with-just-how_398152.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People surprise you, Frank, with just how fuckin stupid they are.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father died in my arms. That's tumult. That's everything exploding.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/my-father-died-in-my-arms-that-s-tumult-that-s-everything-exploding/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/richard-ford-2097_arms_my-father-died-in-my-arms-that-s-tumult_515481.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/richard-ford-2097_arms_my-father-died-in-my-arms-that-s-tumult_515481.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/richard-ford-2097_arms_my-father-died-in-my-arms-that-s-tumult_515481.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My father died in my arms. That's tumult. That's everything exploding.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started reading literature at 17 or 18, and I felt this extra beat to life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-started-reading-literature-at-17-or-18-and-i-felt-this-extra-beat/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/richard-ford-2097_beats_i-started-reading-literature-at-17-or-18_103829.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/richard-ford-2097_beats_i-started-reading-literature-at-17-or-18_103829.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/richard-ford-2097_beats_i-started-reading-literature-at-17-or-18_103829.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started reading literature at 17 or 18, and I felt this extra beat to life.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Maybe I'm a serial regional writer. First here, then there, across the map.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/maybe-i-m-a-serial-regional-writer-first-here-then-there-across-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/richard-ford-2097_firsts_maybe-i-m-a-serial-regional-writer-first_3000638.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/richard-ford-2097_firsts_maybe-i-m-a-serial-regional-writer-first_3000638.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/richard-ford-2097_firsts_maybe-i-m-a-serial-regional-writer-first_3000638.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Maybe I'm a serial regional writer. First here, then there, across the map.” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“All this is a natural part of the aging process, in which you find yourself with less to do and more opportunities to eat your guts out regretting everything you have done.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/all-this-is-a-natural-part-of-the-aging-process-in-which-you-find/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/richard-ford-2097_aging_all-this-is-a-natural-part-of-the-aging_1519241.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/richard-ford-2097_aging_all-this-is-a-natural-part-of-the-aging_1519241.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b80/richard-ford-2097_aging_all-this-is-a-natural-part-of-the-aging_1519241.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All this is a natural part of the aging process, in which you find yourself with less to do and more…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At the exact moment any decision seems to be being made, it's usually long after the real decision was actually made--like light we see emitted from stars.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/at-the-exact-moment-any-decision-seems-to-be-being-made-it-s-usually/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/richard-ford-2097_decision_at-the-exact-moment-any-decision-seems-t_3178157.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/richard-ford-2097_decision_at-the-exact-moment-any-decision-seems-t_3178157.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df2/richard-ford-2097_decision_at-the-exact-moment-any-decision-seems-t_3178157.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At the exact moment any decision seems to be being made, it's usually long after the real decision was…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 19, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If there's another thing that sportswriting teaches you, it is that there are no transcendent themes in life. In all cases things are here and they're over, and that has to be enough.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/if-there-s-another-thing-that-sportswriting-teaches-you-it-is-that-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/richard-ford-2097_cases_if-there-s-another-thing-that-sportswrit_2773852.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/richard-ford-2097_cases_if-there-s-another-thing-that-sportswrit_2773852.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c71/richard-ford-2097_cases_if-there-s-another-thing-that-sportswrit_2773852.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there's another thing that sportswriting teaches you, it is that there are no transcendent themes in…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 20, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I want saner gun laws. I think all these automatic weapons should be banned, big clips and handguns should be banned. As far as I'm concerned, shotguns and hunting weapons are all that we should allow in America.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-want-saner-gun-laws-i-think-all-these-automatic-weapons-should-be/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/richard-ford-2097_amendment_i-want-saner-gun-laws-i-think-all-these_989040.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/richard-ford-2097_amendment_i-want-saner-gun-laws-i-think-all-these_989040.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ea/richard-ford-2097_amendment_i-want-saner-gun-laws-i-think-all-these_989040.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I want saner gun laws. I think all these automatic weapons should be banned, big clips and handguns should…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 21, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What was our life like? I almost don't remember now. Though I remember it, the space of time it occupied. And I remember it fondly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/what-was-our-life-like-i-almost-don-t-remember-now-though-i-remember/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/richard-ford-2097_life_what-was-our-life-like-i-almost-don-t-re_2395499.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/richard-ford-2097_life_what-was-our-life-like-i-almost-don-t-re_2395499.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bab/richard-ford-2097_life_what-was-our-life-like-i-almost-don-t-re_2395499.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What was our life like? I almost don't remember now. Though I remember it, the space of time it occupied…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 22, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not one of those people who as a writer lets my characters tell me what they want to do or call to me or seek me. I go seeking for things, using them as an agent, really.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-as-a-writer-lets-my-characters-tell/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/richard-ford-2097_agents_i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-as-a-wri_2835875.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/richard-ford-2097_agents_i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-as-a-wri_2835875.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/richard-ford-2097_agents_i-m-not-one-of-those-people-who-as-a-wri_2835875.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not one of those people who as a writer lets my characters tell me what they want to do or call to me or…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 23, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I haven't scoured Dixie out of my voice. But I don't think that the books that I have written... have really in any way been Southern in character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-haven-t-scoured-dixie-out-of-my-voice-but-i-don-t-think-that-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/richard-ford-2097_any_i-haven-t-scoured-dixie-out-of-my-voice_591090.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/richard-ford-2097_any_i-haven-t-scoured-dixie-out-of-my-voice_591090.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c18/richard-ford-2097_any_i-haven-t-scoured-dixie-out-of-my-voice_591090.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I haven't scoured Dixie out of my voice. But I don't think that the books that I have written... have really…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 24, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For a writer, children make life needlessly hard. I've muddled through a lot of things, but I have not muddled through my writing life. I work absolutely flat out, giving it my all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/for-a-writer-children-make-life-needlessly-hard-i-ve-muddled-through/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e3/richard-ford-2097_absolutely_for-a-writer-children-make-life-needless_795795.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e3/richard-ford-2097_absolutely_for-a-writer-children-make-life-needless_795795.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e3/richard-ford-2097_absolutely_for-a-writer-children-make-life-needless_795795.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For a writer, children make life needlessly hard. I've muddled through a lot of things, but I have not…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 25, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are more people in America that love guns and want guns for themselves and everyone else than there are not. It is also true that liberals who don't want guns are puny by and large. They're not risking anything, all they're doing is saying they don't like something. Liberals are quick to say this should happen and this should not happen, but they don't do anything about it much.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/there-are-more-people-in-america-that-love-guns-and-want-guns-for/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/richard-ford-2097_amendment_there-are-more-people-in-america-that-lo_201895.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/richard-ford-2097_amendment_there-are-more-people-in-america-that-lo_201895.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/561/richard-ford-2097_amendment_there-are-more-people-in-america-that-lo_201895.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are more people in America that love guns and want guns for themselves and everyone else than there…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 26, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The past is the prism through which we see a great, great, great deal of ourselves; it's a useful prism. It doesn't mean that we're fascinated by the dead or that we're fascinated by things that are settled. It is just one place where we can go to understand ourselves in the present.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-past-is-the-prism-through-which-we-see-a-great-great-great-deal/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/richard-ford-2097_mean_the-past-is-the-prism-through-which-we-s_635460.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/richard-ford-2097_mean_the-past-is-the-prism-through-which-we-s_635460.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/richard-ford-2097_mean_the-past-is-the-prism-through-which-we-s_635460.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The past is the prism through which we see a great, great, great deal of ourselves; it's a useful prism. It…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 27, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that's the thing that memoir can do more than anything it does; it testifies and bears witness to the existence of people whose lives, pleasures and virtues would never have been testified to without my having done it. That makes me really glad.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-think-that-s-the-thing-that-memoir-can-do-more-than-anything-it/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/richard-ford-2097_done_i-think-that-s-the-thing-that-memoir-can_2715659.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/richard-ford-2097_done_i-think-that-s-the-thing-that-memoir-can_2715659.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/richard-ford-2097_done_i-think-that-s-the-thing-that-memoir-can_2715659.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that's the thing that memoir can do more than anything it does; it testifies and bears witness to…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 28, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Some people think that writers are innately solitary and that there's a kind of romance to that solitariness. I tend to think that what writers really want to do is get accepted into things. They want to get accepted into society, into culture, into intelligentsia, into the fun. Writing is their mechanism, their instrument, for doing that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/some-people-think-that-writers-are-innately-solitary-and-that-there-s/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/richard-ford-2097_accepted_some-people-think-that-writers-are-innat_1134095.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/richard-ford-2097_accepted_some-people-think-that-writers-are-innat_1134095.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/richard-ford-2097_accepted_some-people-think-that-writers-are-innat_1134095.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some people think that writers are innately solitary and that there's a kind of romance to that…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 29, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And since that is not how it has been for a long time, you want, this time, to make it last, this glistening one moment, this cool air, this new living, so that you can preserve a feeling of it, inasmuch as when it comes again it may just be too late. You may just be too old. And in truth, of course, this may be the last time that you will ever feel this way again.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/and-since-that-is-not-how-it-has-been-for-a-long-time-you-want-this/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/151/richard-ford-2097_feeling_and-since-that-is-not-how-it-has-been-fo_2523061.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/151/richard-ford-2097_feeling_and-since-that-is-not-how-it-has-been-fo_2523061.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/151/richard-ford-2097_feeling_and-since-that-is-not-how-it-has-been-fo_2523061.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And since that is not how it has been for a long time, you want, this time, to make it last, this glistening…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 30, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm dyslexic. If you can reconcile yourself to not being able to burn through books, which you shouldn't any way, you can slow the whole process down. Then, because of my disability, there is more for me in imaginative literature than there is for other people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-m-dyslexic-if-you-can-reconcile-yourself-to-not-being-able-to-burn/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/richard-ford-2097_able_i-m-dyslexic-if-you-can-reconcile-yourse_1319897.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/richard-ford-2097_able_i-m-dyslexic-if-you-can-reconcile-yourse_1319897.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/richard-ford-2097_able_i-m-dyslexic-if-you-can-reconcile-yourse_1319897.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm dyslexic. If you can reconcile yourself to not being able to burn through books, which you shouldn't any…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 31, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Some things can't be explained. They just are. And after a while they disappear, usually forever, or become interesting in another way. Literature's consolations are always temporary, while life is quick to begin again. It is better not even to look so hard, to leave off explaining. Nothing makes me more queasy than to spend time with people who don't know that and who can't forget, and for whom such knowledge isn't a cornerstone of life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/some-things-can-t-be-explained-they-just-are-and-after-a-while-they/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/richard-ford-2097_books_some-things-can-t-be-explained-they-just_1208012.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/richard-ford-2097_books_some-things-can-t-be-explained-they-just_1208012.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/798/richard-ford-2097_books_some-things-can-t-be-explained-they-just_1208012.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some things can't be explained. They just are. And after a while they disappear, usually forever, or become…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 32, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A reader is entitled to believe what he or she believes is consonant with the facts of the book. It is not unusual that readers take away something that is spiritually at variance from what I myself experienced. That's not to say readers make up the book they want. We all have to agree on the facts. But readers bring their histories and all sets of longings. A book will pluck the strings of those longings differently among different readers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/a-reader-is-entitled-to-believe-what-he-or-she-believes-is-consonant/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/richard-ford-2097_agree_a-reader-is-entitled-to-believe-what-he_783930.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/richard-ford-2097_agree_a-reader-is-entitled-to-believe-what-he_783930.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73c/richard-ford-2097_agree_a-reader-is-entitled-to-believe-what-he_783930.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A reader is entitled to believe what he or she believes is consonant with the facts of the book. It is not…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 33, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She said that it was a mistake to have made as few superficial friends as I have done in my life, and to have concentrated only on the few things I have concentrated on--her, for one. My children, for another. Sportswriting and being an ordinary citizen. This did not leave me well enough armored for the unexpected, was her opinion. She said this was because I didn't know my parents very well, had gone to a military school, and grown up in the south, which was full of betrayers and secret-keepers and untrustworthy people, which I agree is true, though I never knew any of them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/she-said-that-it-was-a-mistake-to-have-made-as-few-superficial/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/richard-ford-2097_children_she-said-that-it-was-a-mistake-to-have-m_3071451.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/richard-ford-2097_children_she-said-that-it-was-a-mistake-to-have-m_3071451.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d7/richard-ford-2097_children_she-said-that-it-was-a-mistake-to-have-m_3071451.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She said that it was a mistake to have made as few superficial friends as I have done in my life, and to…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 34, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The kind of happy I was that day at the Vet when \"Hawk\" Dawson actually doffed his red \"C\" cap to me, and everyone cheered and practically convulsed into tears - you can't patent that. It was one shining moment of glory that was instantly gone. Whereas life, real life, is different and can't even be appraised as simply \"happy\", but only in terms of \"Yes, I'll take it all, thanks\" or \"No, I believe I won't.\" Happy, as my poor father used to say, is a lot of hooey. Happy is a circus clown, a sitcom, a greeting card. Life, though, life's about something sterner. But also something better. A lot better. Believe me.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-kind-of-happy-i-was-that-day-at-the-vet-when-hawk-dawson-actually/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/richard-ford-2097_comedy_the-kind-of-happy-i-was-that-day-at-the_2883626.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/richard-ford-2097_comedy_the-kind-of-happy-i-was-that-day-at-the_2883626.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbb/richard-ford-2097_comedy_the-kind-of-happy-i-was-that-day-at-the_2883626.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The kind of happy I was that day at the Vet when \"Hawk\" Dawson actually doffed his red \"C\" cap to me, and…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 35, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a slow reader would normally be a deficiency; I found a way to make it an asset. I began to sound words and see all those qualities - in a way it made words more precious to me. Since so much of what happens in the world between human beings has to do with the inconsideration of language, with the imprecision of language, with language leaving our mouths unmediated, one thing which was sensuous and visceral led to, in the use of language, a moral gesture. It was about trying to use language to both exemplify and articulate what good is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/being-a-slow-reader-would-normally-be-a-deficiency-i-found-a-way-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/richard-ford-2097_books_being-a-slow-reader-would-normally-be-a_817753.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/richard-ford-2097_books_being-a-slow-reader-would-normally-be-a_817753.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ae/richard-ford-2097_books_being-a-slow-reader-would-normally-be-a_817753.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Being a slow reader would normally be a deficiency; I found a way to make it an asset. I began to sound…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 36, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's been my habit of mind, over these years, to understand that every situation in which human beings are involved can be turned on its head. Everything someone assures me to be true might not be. Every pillar of belief the world rests on may or may not be about to explode. Most things don't stay the way they are very long. Knowing this, however, has not made me cynical. Cynical means believing that good isn't possible; and I know for a fact that good is. I simply take nothing for granted and try to be ready for the change that's soon to come.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/it-s-been-my-habit-of-mind-over-these-years-to-understand-that-every/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/richard-ford-2097_being-true_it-s-been-my-habit-of-mind-over-these-ye_1508343.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/richard-ford-2097_being-true_it-s-been-my-habit-of-mind-over-these-ye_1508343.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/richard-ford-2097_being-true_it-s-been-my-habit-of-mind-over-these-ye_1508343.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's been my habit of mind, over these years, to understand that every situation in which human beings are…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 37, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She looked at me and the expression on her face was an expression of dislike, one I hadn't seen before but knew right away. Later I would see it turned toward other people. But the first time was looking at me and was because she believed she'd done all she could that was correct and the best thing, and it had only gotten her stuck with me. And I couldn't do anything that mattered. Though if I could I would've had my father be there, or Warren Miller, or somebody who had the right words that would take the place of hers, anybody she could speak to without just hearing her own voice in a room and having to go about the trouble of pretending she did not feel absolutely alone.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/she-looked-at-me-and-the-expression-on-her-face-was-an-expression-of/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/richard-ford-2097_dislike_she-looked-at-me-and-the-expression-on-h_2222975.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/richard-ford-2097_dislike_she-looked-at-me-and-the-expression-on-h_2222975.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fec/richard-ford-2097_dislike_she-looked-at-me-and-the-expression-on-h_2222975.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She looked at me and the expression on her face was an expression of dislike, one I hadn't seen before but…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 38, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And now, while he didn't particularly think any of these stories was a bit truer, he did realize that he didn't really know his wife at all; and that in fact the entire conception of knowing another person--of trust, of closeness, of marriage itself--while not exactly a lie since it existed someplace if only as an idea (in his parents' life, at least marginally) was still completely out-of-date, defunct, was something typifying another era, now unfortunately gone. Meeting a girl, falling in love, marrying her, moving to Connecticut, buying a fucking house, starting a life with her and thinking you really knew anything about her--the last part was a complete fiction, which made all the rest a joke.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/and-now-while-he-didn-t-particularly-think-any-of-these-stories-was-a/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/richard-ford-2097_falling-in-love_and-now-while-he-didn-t-particularly-thi_2762729.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/richard-ford-2097_falling-in-love_and-now-while-he-didn-t-particularly-thi_2762729.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/richard-ford-2097_falling-in-love_and-now-while-he-didn-t-particularly-thi_2762729.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And now, while he didn't particularly think any of these stories was a bit truer, he did realize that he…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 39, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you are sixteen you do not know what your parents know, or much of what they understand, and less of what's in their hearts. This can save you from becoming an adult too early, save your life from becoming only theirs lived over again--which is a loss. But to shield yourself--as I didn't do--seems to be an even greater error, since what's lost is the truth of your parents' life and what you should think about it, and beyond that, how you should estimate the world you are about to live in.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/when-you-are-sixteen-you-do-not-know-what-your-parents-know-or-much/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/richard-ford-2097_adults_when-you-are-sixteen-you-do-not-know-wha_783112.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/richard-ford-2097_adults_when-you-are-sixteen-you-do-not-know-wha_783112.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/richard-ford-2097_adults_when-you-are-sixteen-you-do-not-know-wha_783112.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you are sixteen you do not know what your parents know, or much of what they understand, and less of…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 40, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was as if they'd discovered something that had once been there but had gotten hidden or misunderstood or forgotten over time, and they were charmed by it once more, and by one another. Which seems only right and expectable for married people. They caught a glimpse of the person they fell in love with, and who sustained life. For some, that vision must never dim - as is true of me. But it was odd that our parents should catch their glimpse, and have frustration, anxiety and worry pass away like clouds dispersing after a storm, refind their best selves, but for that glimpse to happen just before landing our family in ruin.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Ford" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/it-was-as-if-they-d-discovered-something-that-had-once-been-there-but/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/richard-ford-2097_anxiety-and-worry_it-was-as-if-they-d-discovered-something_2621995.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/richard-ford-2097_anxiety-and-worry_it-was-as-if-they-d-discovered-something_2621995.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a08/richard-ford-2097_anxiety-and-worry_it-was-as-if-they-d-discovered-something_2621995.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was as if they'd discovered something that had once been there but had gotten hidden or misunderstood or…” — Richard Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/#person", "name": "Richard Ford", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/", "image": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b098/author-richard-ford-2097.jpg", "description": "Richard Ford is an American novelist and short‑story author best known for a series of novels featuring the character Frank Bascombe." }, { "@type": "ProfilePage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/", "name": "Richard Ford", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/#person" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/richard-ford-2097_alive_tweet-tweet-you-re-alive-you-ignorant-as_2045963.png" }, "description": "Richard Ford quotes on hope, writing effort, and adult conversation influence.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Authors", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/authors/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Richard Ford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```