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Jonathan Lethem Quotes

born 1964 United States

Jonathan Lethem (born February 19, 1964) is an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer.

United States
Essayists
Novelists
Science fiction authors
Short story writers

Random Jonathan Lethem quote

20 quotes

Feeling unique is what we all have in common, it’s the thing that’s always the same.

The Wall of the Sky, the Wall of the Eye (1996)

People believe what they need to believe.

The Arrest (2020)

He’s just a classic scapegoat, told people things they didn’t want to hear. There’s never any percentage in being ahead of your time.

Amnesia Moon (1995)

I’d joined the ever-growing category of things that look better when you leave the light off.

Gun, with Occasional Music (1994)

What better way to keep people under your thumb? Make up some big enemy, justify everything as part of the war effort.

Amnesia Moon (1995)

You consider yourself an outsider, a seeker of truth amidst lies, yet you’ve bought into the biggest lie that can be told. You snort it through your nose and let it run in your bloodstream.

Gun, with Occasional Music (1994)

“Scout, that’s a good one,” said the sergeant. “Danny-boy couldn’t scout the inside of his eyelids.”

The Wall of the Sky, the Wall of the Eye (1996)

Give it up, Chaos. Sane and real only go so far these days.

Amnesia Moon (1995)

He was a wretched excuse for a human being, but for an inquisitor he wasn’t half bad.

Gun, with Occasional Music (1994)

He allowed himself to feel that his stubbornness was courage. Maybe it was.

Amnesia Moon (1995)

The way to make a bundle in architecture right now was to devise new ways for people to pretend to gather while actually keeping their distance.

Gun, with Occasional Music (1994)

“Where did you come from?” asked Omidon.
“I was exiled to the margin,” said Wendy sourly.
“For what reason?”
“Why is anyone ever exiled to the margin? For threatening the center.”

The Wall of the Sky, the Wall of the Eye (1996)

Human lives exist to be experienced, or possibly endured, but not solved. They resemble any other novel more than they do mysteries. Westerns, even. It’s that lie the mystery tells that I detest.

The Wall of the Sky, the Wall of the Eye (1996)

Things changed, he thought. Then they didn’t. And we forgot they could again.

The Arrest (2020)

This was before cell phones. The desolate spaciousness between humans, between human moments, not yet filled in with chattering ghosts of reassurance. You could hear yourself not think.

The Arrest (2020)

Journeyman himself had a kind of tone deafness when it came to Eastern stuff, or at least to the Eastern stuff spouted by Westerners who fancied themselves enlightened.

The Arrest (2020)

It was that rarity, an easy decision.

Gun, with Occasional Music (1994)

Everett realized what was wrong with the scene. L.A. was built for cars, and without them it was bereft, a body drained of blood.
Or a hive itself, only emptied. A husk.

Amnesia Moon (1995)

“OK, so he’s a producer, right?” Lucius spoke as a prosecuting attorney, nailing down established facts. “The thing about producers is that they are producing something, usually several things at once.”
“He’s a liar,” said Jane.
“Same thing,” said Lucius.

The Arrest (2020)

You remind me of myself, once upon a time. We’re not really that different even now. We chafe at our bits—but you’re stubborn, inflexible. Stupid, finally. I’ve learned to compromise. In negotiation lies power, viability. Your inflexibility has rendered you marginal.

Gun, with Occasional Music (1994)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Jonathan Lethem (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.