John Irving Quotes

Theory is splendid but until put into practice, it is valueless.

You can't run a business or anything else on a theory.

To understand the theory which underlies all things is not sufficient. Theory is but the preparation for practice.

Many speeches can be heard throughout the world, but one always has to wait for deeds

Everything can look good in theory and in practice it all falls apart.

Well, it may be all right in practice, but it will never work in theory

Theory looks well on paper, but does not amount to anything without practice.

The ultimate, most holy form of theory is action.

Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.

In the real world, words don't automatically translate into deeds.

Sometimes the best, and only effective, way to kill an idea is to put it into practice.

An acre of performance is worth a whole world of promise.

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.

Theories are patterns without value. What counts is action.

Nothing keeps its promise.

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.

Do you know the phrase, 'The word 'water' will not wet you?' It's one thing to write down an idea and another thing entirely to execute it.

The value of an idea lies in the using of it.

Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts.

It's deeds we need, not words.

We promise in proportion to our hopes, and we deliver in proportion to our fears.

There are times when I think, 'I'm going to get this part. I know I am. I'm going to get this.' And then I don't, and I'm wondering, 'What happened? I went back five times!'

After you do this for a while, you get used to things not working the way you want them to. There's a job you want, and you don't get it. There's a movie you'd like to get made, and it doesn't get made. You become inured to it.

When I finally got there, to where I thought was the top, I wasn't doing what I was doing in the beginning. I was not happy.

Antisappointment. Anticipation colliding head-on with the certainty of its own doom.