Flannery O'Connor Quotes

In general, the greater the understanding, the greater the delusion; the more intelligent, the less sane.

I know what I want, and where to go.

You have to know what you want to get it.

Quit everything until you find something that you just cannot quit.

We were all delighted, we all realized we were leaving confusion and nonsense behind and performing our one and noble function of the time, move.

Win or lose, people know what you want to do.

You can spend your life competing in a world that talks too loud / You can lose your own direction getting lost among the crowd / Confusion - is it any wonder that the road ahead's not clear / Well you can try too hard to find it now I realise it's here

The logic of a madman is a sane man's confusion.

Clear intentions and clear purpose begets clear results.

Be not careless in deeds, nor confused in words, nor rambling in thought.

I wanted to see something in full daylight; I was sated with the pleasure and comfort of the half light; I had the same desire for the daylight as for water and air. And if seeing was fire, I required the plenitude of fire, and if seeing would infect me with madness, I madly wanted that madness.

Passion is passion. It's a sort of madness and possession of what you do or what you think. This is the difference of life: passion and commerce, which most of the people know as "P.C." But people have just got "C" now instead of "P."

If you don't have a vision, you can never be focused in a direction.

I've got more energy now than when I was younger because I know exactly what I want to do.

love, which is a madness, and a scourge, and a fever, and a delusion, and a snare, is also a mystery, and very imperfectly understood by everyone except the individual sufferer who writhes under its tortures.

Knowing exactly what you want to do, with unwavering conviction, is the spark that generates everything.

Your task it is, amid confusion, rush, and noise, to grasp the lasting, calm and meaningful, and finding it anew, to hold and treasure it.

Your ability to set goals is the master skill of success. Goals unlock your positive mind and release ideas and energy for goal attainment. Without goals, you simply drift and flow on the currents of life. With goals, you fly like an arrow, straight and true to your target.

You will never be indecisive if you know your purpose.

Clarity is essential. Knowing exactly what you want builds your self-confidence immeasurably.

How can I be sure I've succeeded, if I can't remember what I was trying to do

He who sincerely seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose. As he concentrates on that search a light begins to clear his confusion, call it revelation, call it inspiration, call it what you will. It is mistrust that misleads. Sincerity leads straight to the goal.

Since Don Quixote de la Mancha is a crazy fool and a madman, and since Sancho Panza, his squire, knows it, yet, for all that, serves and follows him, and hangs on these empty promises of his, there can be no doubt that he is more of a madman and a fool than his master.

Definiteness of purpose is the starting point from which one must begin.

Better to be furious at one thing, become radiant with purpose. Better to love links and rhythms than all-embracing answers.