Novelists Quote by Paul Auster
““There were no rules when it came to writing, he said. Take a close look at the lives of poets and novelists, and what you wound up with was unalloyed chaos, an infinite jumble of exceptions. That was because writing was a disease, Tom continued, what you might call an infection or influenza of the spirit, and therefore it could strike anyone at any time. The young and the old, the strong and the weak, the drunk and the sober, the sane and the insane. Scan the roster of the giants and semi-giants, and you would discover writers who embraced every sexual proclivity, every political bent, and every human attribute — from the loftiest idealism to the most insidious corruption. They were criminals and lawyers, spies and doctors, soldiers and spinsters, travelers and shut-ins.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The New York Trilogy, 1987
Writing is portrayed as an unpredictable, chaotic force that can affect anyone, regardless of background, producing diverse and often contradictory works.
In simple terms: Writing is a wild, uncontrollable disease of the spirit.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the disorder and let creativity flow.
Themes
creativity
chaos
human experience
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- journalism
- teaching writing
Key Concepts
literature
psychology
artistic freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you harness chaos without losing clarity?
- When does artistic freedom become self‑indulgence?
A Different Perspective
Chaos can hinder coherence and audience connection.
