American - Novelist | February 3, 1907 - October 16, 1997
It takes courage to know when you ought to be afraid.
James A. Michener
CourageYouKnowAfraidOughtTakes
I am the product of the American education system. It is a system that has always been on the lookout for bright boys and girls. It spotted me when I was 14, and I owe a tremendous debt to my alma mater.
EducationI AmMeAmericanBright
I can't remember how old I was, maybe 13, 14, and to see these fellows and hear their stories and to see life come to such a drab ending - my God, a poorhouse in those days was something. You would have to be inert not to respond to it.
LifeGodEndingRememberYouSee
I'm just a guy up on a hill writing.
WritingHillUpGuyJust
My work as a naval officer in World War II enabled me to serve on 49 different South Pacific islands so that I came to know the area about as well as anyone.
WorkWarMeWorldKnowWorld War II
If I were a young man today, I might be lured into the moviemaking industry. You can really make a statement there.
TodayManYouYoungYoung ManMake
Very early on in life, I decided the hell with it: material things weren't for me. Christmas would come, and other kids would have all these presents, and it wouldn't bother me a bit.
LifeMeHellEarlyMaterial Things
A person on dialysis undergoes very heavy and irritating treatment, and in time, it seems more than you can bear.
TimeYouPersonBearMoreHeavy
When I first pitched my Navy tent on the island of Espiritu Santo to the north of Vila, the natives on nearby Malakula were cannibals. Today, they have representation in the United Nations.
TodayIslandNavyFirstUnitedTent
I know the world of opera so intimately: historical sweep, sharply defined characters, not too rational an explanation of what's going on. It's a feast.
WorldKnowOperaHistoricalGoing
If there was a turning point for me, it was 'The Bridges at Toko-Ri.' It is a very fine short novel. But it gave me very little satisfaction. Really. I decided I wasn't going to go down that avenue.
MeBridgesShortDownSatisfaction
Whenever I start a book, I swear it's going to be a short one. But then it's, 'Who was his grandfather? And how did he get there in the first place? And what kind of animals is he chasing?'
StartBookShortPlaceGrandfather
Copyright © 2024 QuotesDict James A. Michener quotes