7 Quotes on Writing, Words and the Art of the Possible
One of the things I really enjoy about the themes at Confident Writing is the chance to share, and pick up, some powerful quotes that illuminate them.
Here’s a selection of quotes on the theme of possibility:
I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge – myth is more potent than history – dreams are more powerful than facts – hope always triumphs over experience – laughter is the cure for grief – love is stronger than death~ Robert Fulghum
(The Fulghum quote is from the Storyteller’s Creed)
When a woman tells the truth she is creating the possibility for more truth around her~ Adrienne Rich
[I haven't changed the quote to make it gender neutral... I wonder what you think - does it make a difference if we think of the power of women telling the truth, men telling the truth, or is it just human beings sharing their simple truths?]
Writing exposes what the heart refuses to acknowledge ~ Barbara Ling
(Thanks for this gem Barbara!)
Literature is the human activity that takes the fullest and most precise account of variousness, possibility, complexity, and difficulty ~ Lionel Trilling
Words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think ~ Lord Byron
Impossible is nothing ~ Mohammed Ali
In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd. ~ Miguel de Cervantes
(Thanks to Jamie at How Not to Write for teaching me this one)
Do you have any other favourite quotes on possibility and the art of the possible?
For more writing quotes, including those shared by Confident Writing readers do check out:
By Words the Mind is Winged: Quotes on Writing and Breathing Space
Quotes on Writing and Audacity
For me, writing is exploration; and most of the time, I’m surprised where the journey takes me.
Jack Dann
There is more pleasure to building castles in the air than on the ground.
Edward Gibbon
.-= Lori Hoeck´s last blog ..‘Burn Notice’ teaches ‘Think Like a Spy’ =-.
Some great quotes. My favorite quote is ” I do not write for an audience, I write for myself so that I may heal my soul.” ~ Unknown
.-= The Word Seeker´s last blog ..Why I am against abortions: You hurt more then yourself part 1 =-.
My humble addition:
The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium. ~Norbet Platt
.-= write a writing´s last blog ..History and Future of “Money Today” =-.
Not sure if I’m remembering this correctly or just culling ideas out of the air…
To think is to be mediocre, action is genius.
Even if we have the most profound of profundities, Shakespearean sylph’s who dance in our hearts, or iambs made of golden-weaved words, until we spill them from our minds, take to pen, to keyboard, we stifle our own genius in favor of everyday mediocrity fueled by fear.
Thanks for these quotes today, Joanna. It was a needed pick-me-up on this day of hump!
Sara @ iGoMogul
No quotes, but a comment on the Adrienne Rich one. Don’t know when she wrote those words, but certainly durng the early 1960s when she was beginning to explore these issues ‘man’ was used as a catch-all (think ‘mankind’ as a very basic example) and thus women were often invisible in language. Using ‘woman’ in this way was often seen as a very strong political statement. You probbaly know all that already, but it’s why I’m very glad you didn’t gender-neutralise her words!
.-= Jan Scott´s last blog ..mother – an end and a beginning =-.
Reading through these quotes today reminded me of a poster I once had in my teenage bedroom of a ballerina in full flight – the caption read:
“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” (- unknown)
I never became a ballerina, but those words captured all the possibilities that lay ahead for me – and filled me with a sense of wonder at what I might become. The words are as relevant in my 40′s as they were in my teens
Thanks for sharing your quotes. I especially like the Fulghum one.
I like these from Anais Nin:
And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. (Evocative of all the possibilities we hold within)
My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living. A reminder of what we all know really!
x
.-= Jan Scott´s last blog ..mother – an end and a beginning =-.
Thanks for sharing those wonderful quotes Joanna.
I read the following quote in “The book of Literary Quotations” and loved it. I cannot agree more with it. Here it goes -
“Of all art in which wise excel,
Nature’s chief masterpiece is writing well”
.-= Tanmay Vora´s last blog ..Creativity, Effectiveness and Constraints =-.
Joanna, nothing is impossible in this world, as Muhammad Ali said so. We’ve witnessed that many impossible have turned into reality, as long as you have the faith and determination inside yours!
My favorite quote for keeping your sanity, from screenwriter (and novelist, by the way) William Goldman, quoted from his great book, “Adventures in the Screen Trade”:
“Nobody knows anything.”
The context makes it a lifesaver: he’s talking about the people who make movies and reject 10,000 scripts for every one they buy. This goes for agents and book editors, too. It’s all guesswork, and they’re all looking for the next home run.
If you believe in your work, as I do in mine, don’t take no for answer. Because the person saying it really doesn’t know any more about what readers will respond to than you do.
Stay sane. Keep writing.
.-= Larry´s last blog ..And the Nominee for Best Director in a Novel is… =-.
Lori those are great quotes – there’s another by Doctorow in similar vein I’ve always liked ‘Writing is an exploration – you start with nothing and learn as you go’. Bit like blogging too?
@ the word seeker… not sure of your name? – that’s interesting – I tend to think most writing is for ourselves too, though we do learn such a lot when we apply different skills to write for others, and gain so much from their reactions and feedback too
amna well that one is wonderful – I find myself thinking more and more about the benefits of writing, beyond the words, the reading, the act of writing, it’s the well-being that flows from it that matters
Sara hi, and thanks so much for those reflections – your words are precisely what I needed to hear! Thanks
Jan thanks for coming in on the Rich point. I recalled an interesting conversation on Robyn McMaster’s blog about changing quotes from the original to be more inclusive, but didn’t feel that was going to work in this regard, because I do think she was referring to act of making visible and real and true which were gender specific… I think there is probably still something in the different need for women to tell their stories and narrate their lives… but maybe we’ll save that conversation for another day
Kathleen your words work for me too, also not a ballerina in my 40s, also dreaming of what possibilities still lie ahead. Thanks
Jan your quotes hold so much (female) wisdom, thanks. Esp for the Anais Nin quote, which was one I just needed to hear
Tanmay thanks for sharing that quote – it’s got me thinking for sure. I’m not sure that I totally agree with the sentiment, but I’m enjoying thinking about why…
Wilson faith and determination will move mountains indeed
Larry what a brilliant quote, thanks. I enjoyed the context and the story behind it, but I think it’s one that could be a lifesaver in so many different circumstances. Learning to accept that no-one really knows anything, taking comfort (and confidence) from the fact your own knowledge is as good as anyone else’s… yes, I think I could take a lot of daily comfort from that too
[...] this quote on Confident Writing. I love the imagery of the drop of ink, like a word on a page. Words are things, and a small drop [...]
Nice post Joanna.
In my world, writing is a form of self-education. To write on something, I have to pass through the journey called learn… unlearn and relearn about the subject. Being able to express fully is the real exciting thing about it.
Utpal
.-= Utpal Vaishnav´s last blog ..Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-26 =-.
Utpal thanks and hello
Writing is a form of self-education to me too… perhaps to all of us. The journey of learn, unlearn and relearn… maybe teach too? is a wonderful one indeed