Lorrie Moore Quotes

Once you start writing something obsessively, it's almost like someone has to rip it from your hands in order for you to put it down.

With no other privilege than that of sympathy and sincere good wishes, I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on my own experience. It will be but short; for the beginning, middle, and end converge to one charge: NEVER PURSUE LITERATURE AS A TRADE.

Life can't defeat a writer who is in love with writing, for life itself is a writer's lover until death.

The painter's obsession with his subject is all that he needs to drive him to work.

Even if I knew for certain that I would never have anything published again, and would never make another cent from it, I would still keep on writing.

I have yet to meet anyone quite so stubborn as myself and animated by this overpowering passion that leaves me no time for thought or anything else. I have, in fact, no interest in life outside racing cars.

Nothing right can be accomplished in art without enthusiasm.

Innocence of heart and violence of feeling are necessary in any kind of superior achievement: The arts cannot exist without them.

The man of genius is he and he alone who finds such joy in his art that he will work at it come hell or high water.

I want to see where and how far I can go as an artist. I look back and see what I've done, and I want to do as much as I can in my lifetime. I love doing it. If I didn't have that passion or love for it, I wouldn't do it.

Make the film that you love. When you find a film that you love, every molecule of your being will be moving in the direction of making the best film you can possibly make. This should be your default mode of operation.

You commit yourself to such a level where there is no compromise. You give everything you have, everything, absolutely everything.

What can be said about a man who is interested in nothing but his painting? It's a pity if a man can only interest himself in one thing. But I can't do any thing else. I have only one interest.

Those who are passionate about what they do have an advantage that is nearly impossible to overcome. In passion there is energy, creativity, resilience and persistence. Passion will get it done.

To me the question is always this: if a ray of light came out of the sky and said, "Your next book will never be published - would you still write it?" If the answer is yes, the book is worth writing.

I would always be painting and drawing. If I was stuck at home, I was in the basement working on a painting.

I promise I shall never give up, and that I'll die yelling and laughing, and that until then I'll rush around this world I insist is holy and pull at everyone's lapel and make them confess to me and to all.

A writer, or any artist, can’t expect to be embraced by the people [but] you just keep doing your work - because you have to, because it’s your calling.

Follow your bliss. That which you love you must spend your life doing, as passionately and as perfectly as your heart, mind and instincts allow.

Making a movie is like getting married. You're like, "Am I going to marry this project? Am I ready for that kind of commitment?"

There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses - only results.

Don't write for money. Write because you love to do something. If you write for money, you won't write anything worth reading.

Writers - we're a little crazy about how much we care about it. We spend a lot of time fussing. At least, I do.

If you're dedicated, if it's something that lives and breathes in your heart, then you've simply got to go ahead and do it.