Philip Roth
Philip Roth
Philip Milton Roth is an American novelist...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth19 March 1933
CountryUnited States of America
too-much human-nature humans
You put too much stock in human intelligence, it doesn't annihilate human nature.
playfulness seriousness closest
Sheer Playfulness and Deadly Seriousness are my closest friends.
reality way
There’s no remaking reality... Just take it as it comes. Hold your ground and take it as it comes. There’s no other way.
dream doctors needs
Dreams? If only they had been! But I don't need dreams, Doctor, that's why I hardly have them—because I have this life instead. With me it all happens in broad daylight!
materials happens
Nothing bad can happen to a writer. Everything is material.
hands giving stills
It's best to give while your hand is still warm.
people ideology
You cannot observe people through an ideology. Your ideology observes for you.
world novelists easier
I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure you - it would make life easier. But discretion is, unfortunately, not for novelists.
people lucky would-be
Maybe the best thing would be to forget being right or wrong about people and just go along for the ride. But if you can do that -- well, lucky you.
taste enough given
You tasted it. Isn't that enough? Of what do you ever get more than a taste? That's all we're given in life, that's all we're given of life. A taste. There is no more.
lying writing thinking
I turn sentences around. That's my life. I write a sentence and then I turn it around. Then I look at it and I turn it around again. Then I have lunch. Then I come back in and write another sentence. Then I have tea and turn the new sentence around. Then I read the two sentences over and turn them both around. Then I lie down on my sofa and think. Then I get up and throw them out and start from the beginning.
commitment writing use
I have a slogan I use when I get anxious writing, which happens quite a bit: ‘the ordeal is part of the commitment.’ It’s one of my mantras. It makes a lot of things doable.
believe religion world
When the whole world doesn't believe in God, it'll be a great place.
fun games faces
Because that is when you love somebody - when you see them being game in the face of the worst. Not courageous. Not heroic. Just game.