Julian Barnes - People Quotes

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Books say: She did this because. Life says: She did this. Books are where things are explained to you; life is where things aren't. I'm not surprised some people prefer books. Books make sense of life. The only problem is that the lives they make sense of are other people's lives, never your own.

Julian Barnes
Sometimes you find the panel, but it doesn't open; sometimes it opens, and your gaze meets nothing but a mouse skeleton. But at least you've looked. That's the real distinction between people: not between those who have secrets and those who don't, but between those who want to know everything and those who don't. This search is a sign of love I maintain.

Julian Barnes
Most people, in my opinion, steal much of what they are. If they didn't what poor items they would be.

Julian Barnes
Love is only what people agree exists, what they agree to put a notional value on. Nowadays it's prized as a commodity by almost everyone. Only not by me. If you ask me, I think love is trading artificially high. One of these days the bottom is going to fall out of love.

Julian Barnes
It's easy, after all, not to be a writer. Most people aren't writers, and very little harm comes to them.

Julian Barnes
Very few of my characters are based on people I've known. It is too constricting.

Julian Barnes
You grew old first not in your own eyes, but in other people's eyes; then, slowly, you agreed with their opinion of you.

Julian Barnes