William Saroyan Quotes

1908–1981 Armenia

William Saroyan (31 August 1908 – 18 May 1981) was an Armenian American author, famous for his novel The Human Comedy (1943) and other works dealing with the comedies and tragedies of everyday existence.

Armenia
Novelists
Playwrights
Screenwriters
Short story writers

Also known as: Saroyan, Saroyan, William

Random William Saroyan quote

155 quotes

What is a street? It is where the living weep, where the dead go off in silence to their peace.

The Bicycle Rider In Beverly Hills (1952)

The loneliness does not come from the War. The War did not make it. It was the loneliness that made the War.

The Human Comedy (1943)

Art and religion would not be able to stop the war any more than they would be able to stop tomorrow.

Something About a Soldier (1940)

Don't bother me, I said. I'm the night manager of this office and when I tell you something it's final.

Hello Out There (1941)

In the end, today is forever, yesterday is still today, and tomorrow is already today.

My Heart's in the Highlands (1939)

There was a touch of anxiety in the whole human race about its future.

He knew the truth and was looking for something better.

Jim Dandy : Fat Man in a Famine (1947)

The boy on the Oakland porch goes to sleep upon the universe of ice and wakes up and remembers the death of his father and mother, and sees the sun.

Obituaries (1979)

The order I found was the order of disorder.

The Bicycle Rider In Beverly Hills (1952)

This was such bad writing that it was good.

The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934)

In the tradition of popular oratory, Trash [a nickname] started a talk at random, moved confidently ahead in no particular direction, and, although he spoke very clearly, said nothing.

Madness in the Family (1988)

Going around the world on a bicycle is no longer enough -- the daredevil has got to go around the moon on a Pogo stick with one arm tied behind him if he wants to get his picture in the paper.

Madness in the Family (1988)

Illness is essentially discomfort, and it is not easy for anybody to be comfortable all the time... in his body, in his work, in his house, or in his soul.

The Bicycle Rider In Beverly Hills (1952)

Life is a great big beautiful three-ring circus. There are those on the floor making their lives among the heads of lions and hoops of fire, and those in the stands, complacent and wowed, their mouths stuffed with popcorn.

I have made a fiasco of my life, but I have had the right material to work with.

My Heart's in the Highlands (1939)

Armenag Saroyan was the failed poet, the failed Presbyterian preacher, the failed American, the failed theological student.

Sons Come and Go, Mothers Hang in Forever (1976)

If you can't write a decent short story because of the cold, write something else. Write anything. Write a long letter to somebody.

The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze (1934)

The weakness of art is that great poems do not ennoble politics, as they certainly should, and the trouble with politics is that they inspire poets only to mockery and scorn.

Something About a Soldier (1940)

Everything alive is part of each of us, and many things which do not move as we move are part of us. The sun is part of us, the earth, the sky, the stars, the rivers, and the oceans. All things are part of us, and we have come here to enjoy them and to thank God for them.

The Human Comedy (1943)

I did my best, and let me urge you to do your best, too. Isn't it the least we can do for one another?

Obituaries (1979)

Attribution

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