Annie Dillard Quotes

For me it's all about personal vision; is there something about a subject that uniquely speaks to me.

A writer looking for subjects inquires not after what he loves best, but after what he alone loves at all.

You know how they say, "Find your voice"? That's your voice, in your pajamas. And it doesn't mean that you're going to publish it or print it or people are going to see you in your pajamas. It just means you are going to construct the foundation in your pajamas, in that voice.

[E]ach of our voices has something unique to say. Not only should I not mold my life to the demands of external conformity; I can't even find the model by which to live outside myself. I can only find it within.

I don't think it is possible to give tips for finding one's voice; it's one of those things for which there aren't really any tricks or shortcuts, or even any advice that necessarily translates from writer to writer. All I can tell you is to write as much as possible.

Self-expression is the dominant necessity of human nature.

I read the other day some verses written by an eminent painter which were original and not conventional. The soul always hears an admonition in such lines, let the subject be what it may. The sentiment they instil is of more value than any thought they may contain. To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, - that is genius.

I think the beauty of the film industry is that if another person tries to become another person or act like another person or imitate another person, they don't really get too far. When that person starts to realize who they are and what they can bring to the table, they start to blossom and grow. With that, it's not so much me looking towards my predecessors who have paved the way in the industry - it's more getting inspired. I get little bits and pieces of what I can take from any and everybody.

The fact is ones own voice is not heard anywhere else. Its a challenge to be yourself. It takes a lot of courage.

To gain your own voice you have to forget about having it heard.

Your ego is your embodiment and your self is your potentiality and that's what you listen to when you listen for the voice of inspiration and the voice of 'What am I here for? What can I possibly make of myself?'

Find your purpose, find your voice.

I feel like it's important, especially at young age, to find exactly what it is that makes your style so important as opposed to just trying to fit into the iconic styles of performers out there.

I'm starting to find my own style.

I still feel like I have a lot of growing up to do 'til I find the voice. Everybody has their own voice and their own thing they want to say to the world.

But at a certain point, you have to take your influence and find your own voice if you want to become a relevant artist.

I thought I was clever enough to write as well as these people and I didn't realize that there is something called originality and your own voice.

Sometimes you find your voice by trying to write like people, and sometimes you find it by trying to write unlike people.

You've got one life: find your voice within it.

Covers are always so fun to do, but there's nothing like telling your own story.

You can only write your own vision.

The voice of our original self is often muffled, overwhelmed, even strangled, by the voices of other people’s expectations.

I prayed hard and only gradually became aware that this fierce praying was a way of finding prologue and entrance into my own writing. This came as both astonishment and relief. When I thought God had abandoned me, I discovered that He had simply given me a different voice to praise the inexhaustible beauty of the made world.

Most of us only find our own voices after we've sounded like a lot of other people.