“In the first act get your principal character up a tree; in the second act, throw stones at him; in the third, get him down gracefully.”

Anonymous

Note: this quote is often attributed to one of various playwrights. However, according to this article on the Quote Investigator, the actual source is unknown. The first known occurrence of the quote is from November 1897 in the “Bridgeport Herald” of Bridgeport, Connecticut, but they do not attribute the quote.

"A book — a well-composed book — is a magic carpet on which we are wafted to a world that we cannot enter in any other way. Yet, in another sense, all true works of fiction have their scenes laid in the same country, and the events take place in the same climate: that country, that climate which we all long for and in our several ways strive to reach — the region where truth is eternal and man immortal and flowers never fade."

Caroline Gordon, How to Read a Novel (1957), p. 234

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If you enjoyed this quote, you may want to check out the others I've shared. 

Want more quotes?

If you enjoyed this quote, why not check out the others I've shared here?

"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster." Isaac Asimov, Life Magazine (1984).

Like quotes?

You can find more in my quotes section here.

I like to collect quotes, in particular about writing, and I'm going to share a series of them on the blog here. 

I love this quote and keep coming back to it. It's from Valis, and the complete quote is:

"For each person there is a sentence — a series of words — which has the power to destroy him … another sentence exists, another series of words, which will heal the person. If you're lucky you will get the second; but you can be certain of getting the first: that is the way it works. On their own, without training, individuals know how to deal out the lethal sentence, but training is required to deal out the second." Philip K Dick, Valis.

Do you have a favorite quote?

Check out more of my favorite quotes in my quotes category.

I've been sharing some of my favorite quotes on social media for a while and I've decided to bring them to the blog as well! We're starting with this classic Kurt Vonnegut quote.

“Science is magic that works.” Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle.

If you liked this, check out my other favourite quotes.