Top 56 Quotes by Philip Roth

About Philip Roth

These are some quotes by American author Philip Roth Novelist, who was born on March 19, 1933.

All that we don't know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing.

All that we don't know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing.

Philip Roth

I work all day, morning and afternoon, just about every day. If I sit there like that for two or three years, at the end I have a book.

I work all day, morning and afternoon, just about every day. If I sit there like that for two or three years, at the end I have a book.

Philip Roth

History... is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.

History... is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.

Philip Roth

I've stopped reading fiction. I don't read it at all. I read other things: history, biography. I don't have the same interest in fiction that I once did.

I've stopped reading fiction. I don't read it at all. I read other things: history, biography. I don't have the same interest in fiction that I once did.

Philip Roth

Of course you bank on your experience, but as a sounding board. It isn't that you write down what happens to you every day. You wouldn't be a writer if you did that.

Of course you bank on your experience, but as a sounding board. It isn't that you write down what happens to you every day. You wouldn't be a writer if you did that.

Philip Roth

I said the screen will kill the reader, and it has: the movie screen in the beginning, the television screen, and now the coup de grace, the computer screen.

I said the screen will kill the reader, and it has: the movie screen in the beginning, the television screen, and now the coup de grace, the computer screen.

Philip Roth

For all I know, I am beginning with the ending. My page one can wind up a year later as page two hundred, if it's still even around.

For all I know, I am beginning with the ending. My page one can wind up a year later as page two hundred, if it's still even around.

Philip Roth

At night, I read. I read for two hours. I just finished a marvelous book by Louise Erdrich, 'The Round House.' But mostly I read 20th-century history and biography. I lived then. I was either a child or at school or at work.

Philip Roth

Should you protect profits? Yes. But run for the hills? No.

Should you protect profits? Yes. But run for the hills? No.

Philip Roth

You write differently in each book. It may appear to be similar to readers, but you're a different writer in each book because you haven't approached that subject before. And every subject brings out a different prose strain in you. Fundamentally, yes, you're contained as one writer. But you have various voices. Like a good actor.

Philip Roth

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