Kurt Vonnegut Quotes

I don't aspire at present to be king of the hill in American literature.

You say that you hope I will be recognized as the best novelist of my generation. I want you to know now and know completely that that would mean to me absolutely nothing.

I haven't been the kind of writer about whom book-length academic studies have been written.

It seemed impossible that a scrappy book like 'Goon Squad' could win an award like that. It's such an iconic honor. I think what the Pulitzer means to me is that I'll need to work very, very hard to try to live up to it.

You can't be admitted to the ranks of writers of importance unless you have sales.

I shall not be satisfied unless I produce something which shall for a few days supersede the last fashionable novel on the tables of young ladies.

I've been very lucky with prizes. But the thing about prizes is that, when you talk about a prize-winning author, you can be talking about one that is well-regarded but doesn't sell any books.

I was very pleased, obviously, to have outsold such great writers. But I'm not insane - I do realize that I am a popular writer who people buy to take on vacation.

I've written fiction... but the nonfiction has always received the most attention.

I think that anyone who likes writing views 'The New Yorker' as the, you know, pinnacle of the publishing world. If you get 50 words published in 'The New Yorker,' it's more important than 50 articles in other places. So, would I love to one day write for them? I guess. But that's not my sole ambition.

I would never have thought my collection of short stories would win the Giller.

I didn't like being a name attached to a book.

My position as the best-selling author at E! is secure - unless Salman Rushdie develops a show with them.

When I pick up a book that's, you know, wreathed in laurels, I expect a lot, and that doesn't give the book its best chance to shine.

It's a strange failure of the literary world that Updike never quite received his due. Despite winning two Pulitzers and two National Book Awards and countless other awards and honours, he was denied the Nobel.

'Fallen Too Far' was my first NYT bestseller. That changed my life.

The distribution might which Penguin brought to the table and the stature they gave me as an author is unparalleled.

Writers are not celebrities, so you don't expect to walk down the street and hear, 'Oh my God, there's Sylvia Day.' You prefer to be anonymous.

After a while, when the writer is mature, it doesn't really matter - not because of finances but because of reputation. It doesn't really matter how many awards you get.

I got lucky, and the first book, 'The Black Echo,' got published.

I have high hopes for Renee Ballard's literary life, and it can't start out better than the top of 'USA TODAY''s best-seller list.

I'm an idiot who won the Literature Nobel Prize.

Sometimes I get jealous when I'm reading a great book by a younger writer. But 'White Tiger' is so good, I almost forgot to hate Aravind Adiga.

As far as fame, the everlasting fame thing. I used to think that was important for a writer... the desire to make your mark.

I am a writer... I am a genius of a writer; I have it in me. I am writing the best poems of my life; they will make my name.