American people Quote by Garrison Keillor

No writing is good that does not tend to better mankind in some way or other.

— Alexander Pope

We often compare the experience of writing a book to that of playing God. It is up to us, and only us, to determine…

— Taylor Jenkins Reid

When I say it doesn't make much difference, I mean in terms of the importance of the piece of literature.

— Elie Wiesel

While a book has got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the reader it's got to be worthwhile from the point…

— Terry Pratchett

I've learned over the years that the writing is smarter and far larger than the writer and his or her own desires for it.

— Andre Dubus

Writing is a divine art, and the more I write and read the more I love it.

— Virginia Woolf

What is written is more influential than what is said.

— James Cook

If our writing is worth anything at all, then we have to put ourselves into it.

— Erica Brown

To my mind, nothing is as important as good writing, because in literature, the walls between people and cultures are broken down, and the…

— Richard Bausch

If we marvel at the artist who has written a great book, we must marvel more at those people whose lives are works of…

— Katherine Paterson

“The world is a hellish place, and bad writing is destroying the quality of our suffering. It cheapens and degrades the human experience, when…

— Tom Waits

The purpose of a writer is to be read, and the criticism which would destroy the power of pleasing must be blown aside

— Samuel Johnson