"Whitney Houston was a laser beam ... She always gave me better than what I asked for in the studio"
About David Foster
David Foster — Life and Legacy
David Foster Wallace was a significant American writer whose work delves into the intricacies of human experience, often through the lens of addiction and existential inquiry. His most notable work, 'Infinite Jest', is a sprawling narrative that examines the nature of entertainment, addiction, and the search for meaning in a postmodern world. Wallace's writing is characterized by its unique blend of humor and profound insight, challenging readers to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and society. One of Wallace's key ideas is encapsulated in his quote, 'The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you.' This reflects his belief that the pursuit of truth is often fraught with difficulty and pain, yet ultimately liberating. His exploration of irony serves as a critique of contemporary culture, revealing the contradictions inherent in human behavior and societal expectations. Wallace's ability to articulate the complexities of loneliness and connection resonates deeply, making his work both relatable and thought-provoking. Today, Wallace's quotes and ideas continue to influence readers and writers alike, as they grapple with the challenges of modern life. His insights into the human condition remain relevant, prompting reflection on the nature of happiness, connection, and the often-overlooked struggles that define our existence.
Quote collection
David Foster quotes (page 1 of 2)
28 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"This is what the real, no bullshit value of your liberal arts education is supposed to be about: how to keep from going through your comfortable, prosperous, respectable adult life dead, unconscious, a slave to your head and to your natural default setting of being uniquely, completely, imperially alone day in and day out."
"The really important kind of freedom involves...being able truly to care about other people..."
"You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't."
"Don't do what you're taught to do, do what you love to do."
"The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day. That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the rat race, the constant gnawing sense of having had, and lost, some infinite thing."
"CPR to those elements of what’s human and magical that still live and glow despite the times’ darkness."
"Don't be too precious about your craft... there's only 26 letters and 12 notes, and Shakespeare and Beethoven said it all better than any of us ever will"
"It looks like you can write a minimalist piece without much bleeding. And you can. But not a good one."
"It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive, day in and day out."
"The sun like a sneaky keyhole view of hell."
"Gentlemen, welcome to the world of reality – there is no audience. No one to applaud, to admire. No one to see you. Do you understand? Here is the truth – actual heroism receives no ovation, entertains no one. No one queues up to see it. No one is interested."
"How totally banal of you to ask what I really mean."
"An ad that pretends to be art is – at absolute best – like somebody who smiles warmly at you only because he wants something from you."
"You get to decide what to worship."
"Try to let what is unfair teach you."
"We all suffer alone in the real world; true empathy's impossible."
"Lightfoot's voice is such a part of the fabric of Canada, I know it almost as well as I know my own voice."
"The thing about people who are truly and malignantly crazy: their real genius is for making the people around them think they themselves are crazy. In military science this is called Psy-Ops, for your info."
"I've noticed that, while I can't help but respect and sort of envy the moral nerve of people who truly do not care what others think of them, people like this also make me nervous, and I tend to do my admiring from a safe distance."