Top 25 Quotes by John Gardner of 37 - Page 2

We know that where community exists in confers upon its members identity, a sense of belonging, and a measure of security. . . . Communities are the ground-level generators and preservers of values and ethical systems.

We know that where community exists in confers upon its members identity, a sense of belonging, and a measure of security. . . . Communities are the ground-level generators and preservers of values and ethical systems.

John Gardner

Community, Identity, Levels

In university courses we do exercises. Term papers, quizzes, final examinations are not meant for publication. We move through a course on Dostoevsky or Poe as we move through a mildly good cocktail party, picking up the good bits of food or conversation, bearing with the rest, going home when it comes to seem the reasonable thing to do. Art, at those moments when it feels most like art -- when we feel most alive, most alert, most triumphant -- is less like a cocktail party than a tank full of sharks.

John Gardner

Art, Moving, Home

John Gardner (2010). “The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers”, p.35, Vintage

Great things happen nationally when topmost leadership is goaded and supported from below.

John Gardner

Leadership, Great Things, Happens

John Gardner (1993). “On Leadership”, p.9, Simon and Schuster

So childhood too feels good at first, before one happens to notice the terrible sameness, age after age.

John Gardner

Childhood, Feel Good, Age

John Gardner (2010). “Grendel”, p.9, Vintage

Writing a novel is like heading out over the open sea in a small boat. It helps, if you have a plan and a course laid out.

John Gardner

Writing, Sea, Helping

I cannot believe such monstrous energy of grief can lead to nothing!

John Gardner

Grief, Believe, Energy

John Gardner (2010). “Grendel”, p.123, Vintage

Poor Grendel's had an accident. So may you all.

John Gardner

May, Poor, Accidents

Find a pile of gold and sit on it.

John Gardner

Gold

The image-managers encourage the individual to fashion himself into a smooth coin, negotiable in any market.

John Gardner

Fashion, Business, Coins

i understand that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. i understood that, finally and absolutely, i alone exist. all the rest, i saw, is merely what pushes me, or what i push against, blindly - as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back. i create the whole universe, blink by blink.

John Gardner

Enmity, World, Saws