Joyce Carol Oates - People Quotes

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When people say there is too much violence in [my books], what they are saying is there is too much reality in life.

Joyce Carol Oates

I used to think that getting old was about vanity—but actually it's about losing people you love.

Joyce Carol Oates

The only people who claim that money is not important are people who have enough money so that they are relieved of the ugly burden of thinking about it.

Joyce Carol Oates

Like all virtuous people he imagines he must speak the truth.

Joyce Carol Oates

When you're 50 you start thinking about things you haven't thought about before. I used to think getting old was about vanity — but actually it's about losing people you love. Getting wrinkles is trivial.

Joyce Carol Oates

Whoever was stupid was beneath worry or thought; you did not have to figure them out. This eliminated hundreds of people. In this life you had time only for a certain amount of thinking, and there was no need to waste any of it on people who were not threatening.

Joyce Carol Oates