Raymond Carver Quotes

I behaved worse than anybody for 15 years, and you have to pay the price for that. I used to blame other people, then therapy made me realise I had to change.

You always say 'I'll quit when I start to slide', and then one morning you wake up and realize you've done slid.

If you could see the instructions that I gave Jerry to begin with, I'd be embarrassed.

I don't get high, but sometimes I wish I did. That way, when I messed up in life I would have an excuse. But right now there's no rehab for stupidity.

I should have worried about taking responsibilities for which I was not ready.

I did think for many, many years that because of my ability I could beat the system. And I was wrong.

I wanted to cause trouble, but I know now it stays with you.

I made a lot of mistakes. And obviously, it cost me.

I think everyone can relate to that fall from grace - having life change in an instant or having to stand for some of your bad choices, that feeling of 'Nothing is ever going to be good again.'

Thought I to myself, we shall never come off scot-free.

there are risks you'll take for yourself because you know that if your plan goes wrong, it'll be too late for regrets. but if you risk the lives of others and fail, you'll have a lifetime to regret it.

People don't pay attention. And then one day there's an accounting. And after that, nothing is the same.

Well, we have brought certain things upon ourselves. I've certainly brought things upon us with my mouth.

It is the bungled crime that brings remorse.

I have done so many things in my life," she said to the mirror. "Evil things, perhaps. But never unattentively, never wastefully...was I wrong?

It's easy to make mistakes. It's living with the consequences of them that's the hardest.

No one's gonna sympathize when we crash, they'll say you hit what you head for, you get what you ask.

Sometimes you make your mistakes with your eyes wide open.

When you point your finger 'cause your plan fell through You got three more fingers pointing back at you!

The whole point of life is learning to live with the consequences of the bad decision we've made.

You'll consider what you did wrong & bookend your reflections with hunger - no supper, no breakfast.

She doesn't want to end up like me. At least I'm giving someone an example not to follow.

If you're first, no one will ever remember. If you're wrong, no one will ever forget.

You can spend the entire second half of your life recovering from the mistakes of the first half.