15 Quotes & Sayings By Bernard Malamud

Bernard Malamud was born in New York City on February 26, 1914. He died on January 30, 1986. His stories are told with the same ease and grace that characterized his life. As an author he is known for first-rate novels like The Assistant; The Natural, winner of the Pulitzer Prize; The Fixer; and Sam Wasson, which won the National Book Award Read more

Malamud also wrote short stories, essays, and three books of poetry. He was married three times and had two sons.

The purpose of a writer is to keep civilisation from...
1
The purpose of a writer is to keep civilisation from destroying itself.", September 14, 1958) Bernard Malamud
If the stories come, you get them written, you're on...
2
If the stories come, you get them written, you're on the right track. Eventually everyone learns his or her own best way. The real mystery to crack is you. Bernard Malamud
3
When I don't feel hurt, I hope they bury me. Bernard Malamud
4
Where to look if you've lost your mind? Bernard Malamud
5
They say God appeared in history and used it for his purposes, but if that was so he had no pity for men. Bernard Malamud
6
It was a strange thing about people- they could look the same but be different. Bernard Malamud
7
Experience makes good people better." She was staring at the lake. "How does it do that?" "Through their suffering." "I had enough of that, " he said in disgust. "We have two lives, Roy, the life we learn with and the life we live with after that. Suffering is what brings us toward happiness All it taught me was to stay away from it. I am sick of all I have suffered." She shrank away a little. Bernard Malamud
8
The purpose of a writer is to keep civilisation from destroying it Bernard Malamud
9
I am somewhat of a meliorist. That is to say, I act as an optimist because I find I cannot act at all, as a pessimist. One often feels helpless in the face of the confusion of these times, such a mass of apparently uncontrollable events and experiences to live through, attempt to understand, and if at all possible, give order to; but one must not withdraw from the task if he has some small things to offer - he does so at the risk of diminishing his humanity. Bernard Malamud
10
Charity you can give even when you haven't got. Bernard Malamud
11
A writer is a spectator, looking at everything with a highly critical eye. Bernard Malamud
12
I fix what's broken - except in the heart. Bernard Malamud
13
Without heroes we are all plain people and don't know how far we can go. Bernard Malamud
14
The idea is to get the pencil moving quickly. Bernard Malamud