"You never learn how to write a novel. You just learn how to write the novel that you're writing."
About Gene Wolfe
Gene Wolfe — Life and Legacy
Gene Wolfe was an influential American author recognized for his unique blend of science fiction and fantasy, particularly in his seminal work 'The Book of the New Sun.' His narratives often challenge readers to confront the complexities of reality and imagination. Wolfe's storytelling is marked by rich symbolism and layered meanings, as seen in his quote, 'The world is a story, and we are its characters.' This reflects his belief that our understanding of reality is shaped by the narratives we construct. Wolfe's exploration of memory and identity reveals a profound psychological depth, as he often depicted characters grappling with their pasts. His narrative style encourages readers to question their perceptions, making ambiguity a central theme in his work. For instance, he once stated, 'A story is a way to make sense of the world,' highlighting how narrative structures influence our understanding of existence. Today, Wolfe's work continues to resonate, inviting new generations to explore the intricate relationship between imagination and reality. His ability to weave philosophical questions into compelling narratives sets him apart as a distinctive voice in literature.
Quote collection
Gene Wolfe quotes (page 1 of 4)
61 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"Imagine a man who stands before a mirror; a stone strikes it, and it falls to ruin all in an instant. And the man learns that he is himself, and not the mirrored man he had believed himself to be."
"People don't want other people to be people."
"Weak people believe what is forced on them. Strong people what they wish to believe, forcing that to be real."
"Knowledge is soon changed, then lost in the mist, an echo half-heard."
"Certain mystes aver that the real world has been constructed by the human mind, since our ways are governed by the artificial categories into which we place essentially undifferentiated things, things weaker than our words for them. We believe we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges."
"Ambiguity is necessary in some of my stories, not in all. In those, it certainly contributes to the richness of the story. I doubt that thematic closure is never attainable."
"My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure."
"There is no limit to stupidity. - Space itself is said to be bounded by its own curvature, but stupidity continues beyond infinity."
"Evolution teaches us the original purpose of language was to ritualize men's threats and curses, his spells to compel the gods; communication came later."
"All time exists. That is the truth.... If the future did not exist now, how could we journey toward it? If the past does not exist still, how could we leave it behind?"
"We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges."
"We think that we know a man or a woman, when so much of what we know is actually that man's or that woman's situation, his or her place on the board of life. Move the pawn to the last row and see her rise in armor, sword in hand."
"You do not characterize by telling the reader about the character. You do it by showing the character thinking, speaking and acting in a characteristic way. You simply show it and shut up."
"All novels are fantasies. Some are more honest about it."
"Before you ask more questions, think about whether you really want to know the answers."
"Women believe -- or at least often pretend to believe -- that all our tenderness for them springs from desire; that we love them when we have not for a time enjoyed them, and dismiss them when we are sated, or to express it more precisely, exhausted. There is no truth in this idea, though it may be made to appear true. When we are rigid with desire, we are apt to pretend a great tenderness in the hope of satisfying that desire; but at no other time are we in fact so liable to treat women brutally, and so unlikely to feel any deep emotion but one."
"...in some situations winning consist[s] of disentangling oneself."
"We have treatments for disturbed persons, Nicholas. But, at least for the time being, we have no treatment for disturbing persons."
"That we are capable only of being what we are remains our unforgivable sin."