Paul Auster Quotes

A fool is a man who never tried an experiment in his life.

I didn't think; I experimented.

The writer has to take risks and go somewhere full of mystery and possibility for the novel to deepen over the years it takes to write it.

I knew I wanted to try comedy and acting. Even if I failed, at least I would have tried. It's better than never having tried.

I write my books never thinking of an actor.

Somebody once asked me what my theory of life was, and I said, 'Don't try.' That fits the writing, too. I don't try; I just type.

Nobody knows what they're doing, so don't be afraid to try things.

I want to experiment. That is why I only sign the movies I believe in.

There are so many ideas that I have in my mind, of projects that I would love to tackle, people I would love to work with, genres I would love to experiment with, and sounds that don't fit any of my previous projects that I need to find a home for.

You can't let regret stifle your creativity.

People get so scared to try things.

I remember on my very first film, which Steven Soderberg executive-produced, he said, 'Try not to repeat yourself. Do things that scare you.' Even if it's a challenge, I want people to say that this guy tried this thing. Hopefully he learned from it.

I always say that improvisation is the utterance of one's spirit, and it dictates your life experience, and that's how you find your concepts and your way for painting your musical picture.

The one thing I learned is to just give everything a shot. You don't want to live in regret.

If I had to pick an artist that I look up to and am inspired by, it's Matisse because of how many times he would paint the same idea until he felt like he maybe got it right, and I try to do the same thing with my writing.

It's good to let go of control. That's probably something all artists and song writers will say at some point.

I follow my inspiration to wherever it goes. I do want the fans to feel the fun and excitement about it, and I like for people to be able to make their own interpretations about my work.

You can do a good job when you play it safe, but you can't do a spectacular job. You have to risk it and be in danger of looking like an absolute fool.

No one reads my books until they're finished because I don't want feedback. It confuses me, and it changes things; if I get too much feedback, I get thrown off my path.

No one knows what's a good idea or a bad idea until you try it.

I can write a love song or a ballad, or when I read something and it pisses me off, I know how to go in.

I think one of the studio's characteristics is to embrace wholeheartedly what we feel is interesting; what we perceive to be worthwhile, cool, or beautiful; and to place these ideals at the foundation of the games we make.

I think comics do need permission to fail. I think comics do need permission to go up and try stuff.

No creator in modern times is going to stick around with a concept for 20 years. There are simply too many alternatives that writers want to pursue.

I'm always thinking about stories and ideas, and I have a few I'd like to actively pursue, but as much as I love them, I love the process of creation, and I want to go on and create things for myself, and create new things.