Biography of famous book writers quotes

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

What follows are the best sourced quotes (or, if you will, quotations) from writers down the ages, 50 of the most awesome, moving, and inspiring things that writers have ever said in literature.

At least, that’s what we here at Interesting Literature reckon – we hope you agree.

Remember that quote from Abraham Lincoln, ‘The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it is hard to verify their authenticity.’ That joke is a reminder that we should be on our guard about internet quotes – so, although we haven’t cited chapter and page numbers, we have given the title of the text in which each quote can be found.

(If you know better and think we’ve still misattributed any of the following, do get in touch.)

Live all you can – it’s a mistake not to. It doesn’t so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life.

– Henry James, The Ambassadors

I avoid looking forward or backward, an