Top 21 Quotes by Patrick Modiano

About Patrick Modiano

These are some quotes by French author Patrick Modiano Novelist, who was born on July 30, 1945.

When I was younger, I just put off the writing until later in the day, but now I write early every morning to get it done. I can only write for a few hours at a time; after that, my attention fades.

When I was younger, I just put off the writing until later in the day, but now I write early every morning to get it done. I can only write for a few hours at a time; after that, my attention fades.

Patrick Modiano

For a long time, I've had a recurring dream - I dream I don't have to write any more, that I'm free. I'm not free, alas; I'm still clearing the same terrain, with the impression that it's never finished.

Patrick Modiano

A novelist can never be his own reader, except when he is ridding his manuscript of syntax errors, repetitions, or the occasional superfluous paragraph.

A novelist can never be his own reader, except when he is ridding his manuscript of syntax errors, repetitions, or the occasional superfluous paragraph.

Patrick Modiano

I always have the impression that I write the same book.

I always have the impression that I write the same book.

Patrick Modiano

The more things remain obscure and mysterious, the more they interest me. I even try to find mystery in things that have none.

The more things remain obscure and mysterious, the more they interest me. I even try to find mystery in things that have none.

Patrick Modiano

In the end, we are all determined by the place and the time in which we were born.

In the end, we are all determined by the place and the time in which we were born.

Patrick Modiano

Something happens between a novel and its reader which is similar to the process of developing photographs, the way they did it before the digital age. The photograph, as it was printed in the darkroom, became visible bit by bit. As you read your way through a novel, the same chemical process takes place.

Patrick Modiano

Recently, I looked back at my first manuscripts and was struck by the lack of space, of breath. That's exactly how it felt, back then... like I was suffocating.

Recently, I looked back at my first manuscripts and was struck by the lack of space, of breath. That's exactly how it felt, back then... like I was suffocating.

Patrick Modiano

I quickly realised that it is difficult to get started when writing a novel. You have this dream of what you want to create, but it is like walking around a swimming pool and hesitating to jump in because the water is too cold.

Patrick Modiano

I think I became a writer because I didn't know of anything else to do. Maybe some incident from my childhood influenced me.

I think I became a writer because I didn't know of anything else to do. Maybe some incident from my childhood influenced me.

Patrick Modiano

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