“Fiction gives us a second chance that life denies us.”
New York Times (July 28, 1976).
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Paul Theroux 32
American travel writer and novelist 1941Related quotes
“One life; a little gleam of Time between two Eternities; no second chance to us for evermore!”
1840s, Heroes and Hero-Worship (1840), The Hero as Man of Letters
“Laughter separates us from despair and gives us a chance at love.”
During a dinner discussion with Kristen Bell and Jean Reno. Filmed for a week of shows in Paris, France.
2011-08-05 broadcast
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005–2014)
“Freedom gives us a chance to realize our human and individual uniqueness.”
Journal entry (28 March 1959)
Working and Thinking on the Waterfront (1969)
Context: The significant point is that people unfit for freedom — who cannot do much with it — are hungry for power. The desire for freedom is an attribute of a "have" type of self. It says: leave me alone and I shall grow, learn, and realize my capacities. The desire for power is basically an attribute of a "have-not" type of self. If Hitler had had the talents and the temperament of a genuine artist, if Stalin had had the capacity to become a first-rate theoretician, if Napoleon had had the makings of a great poet or philosopher they would hardly have developed the all-consuming lust for absolute power.
Freedom gives us a chance to realize our human and individual uniqueness. Absolute power can also bestow uniqueness: to have absolute power is to have the power to reduce all the people around us to puppets, robots, toys, or animals, and be the only man in sight. Absolute power achieves uniqueness by dehumanizing others.
To sum up: Those who lack the capacity to achieve much in an atmosphere of freedom will clamor for power.
“In the shocked aftermath, I said, "We'll give them a second chance."”
With my right hand, I reached to the other pocket. I had known as soon as I lifted the false bottom of the gun case and looked underneath what it meant. I had tried without ceasing to find some alternative to Attolia's ruthless advice, and I had failed. Gen's fit reassured me that iI had not failed for lack of trying. He had seen no other solution himself.
I lifted out the matching gun and read the archaic inscription. Realisa onum. Not "The queen made me," but "I make the king."
A Conspiracy of Kings
“Well, ABC, NBC, CBS: Bullshit.
They give us fact or fiction?
I guess an even split.”
Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (2002)