Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

57 Great Quotes By John Edmund Gardner, The English Thriller Novelist

Famous As: English Spy and Novelist, Best Known for His 'James Bond' Continuation Novels
Born On: November 20, 1926
Died On: August 3, 2007
Born In: Northumberland, England
Died At Age: 80
John Edmund Gardner was a famous spy and thriller novelist and a former Royal Marine Commando, distinguished for writing the continuation of the fiction thriller, James bond. John was also the creator of the popular fiction character Boysie Oakes, for his novel ‘The Liquidator’. He had penned down more than fifty notable fiction works, of which fourteen were his original ‘James Bond novels’. John’s work was liked by his readers because of the subtle parody of serious characters he included. Although it is true that he drew inspiration for his characters from other renowned novels, he completely revamped their roles. Be it the attire they wore or the vehicles they used; everything was different and had a twist to it. Examples to this were characters like Derek Torry, Herbie Kruger which later appeared in the James Bond series. John was known for rejuvenating the depiction and trend of fictitious characters. His writings, thoughts and quotes still motivate and boost our normal life approach. Have a peek at some of his famous quotations on love, life, introspection, happiness and motivation.
Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.

Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.

John Gardner
When I was a child I truly loved:
Unthinking love as calm and deep
As the North Sea. But I have lived,
And now I do not sleep.

When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. But I have lived, And now I do not sleep.

John Gardner
They watch on, evil, incredibly stupid, enjoying my destruction.

'Poor Grendel's had an accident,' I whisper. 'So may you all.

They watch on, evil, incredibly stupid, enjoying my destruction. 'Poor Grendel's had an accident,' I whisper. 'So may you all.

John Gardner
We read five words on the first page of a really good novel and we begin to forget that we are reading printed words on a page; we begin to see images.

We read five words on the first page of a really good novel and we begin to forget that we are reading printed words on a page; we begin to see images.

John Gardner
People will tell you that writing is too difficult, that it's impossible to get your work published, that you might as well hang yourself. Meanwhile, they'll keep writing and you'll have hanged yourself.

People will tell you that writing is too difficult, that it's impossible to get your work published, that you might as well hang yourself. Meanwhile, they'll keep writing and you'll have hanged yourself.

John Gardner
As a rule of thumb I say, if Socrates, Jesus and Tolstoy wouldn't do it, don't.

As a rule of thumb I say, if Socrates, Jesus and Tolstoy wouldn't do it, don't.

John Gardner
I couldn't go on, too conscious all at once of my whispering, my eternal posturing, always transforming the world with words--changing nothing.

I couldn't go on, too conscious all at once of my whispering, my eternal posturing, always transforming the world with words--changing nothing.

John Gardner
The primary subject of fiction is and has always been human emotion, values, and beliefs.

The primary subject of fiction is and has always been human emotion, values, and beliefs.

John Gardner
There is no limit to desire but desire's needs.

There is no limit to desire but desire's needs.

John Gardner
Nothing can be more limiting to the imagination than only writing about what you know

Nothing can be more limiting to the imagination than only writing about what you know

John Gardner
Find a pile of gold and sit on it.

Find a pile of gold and sit on it.

John Gardner
Talking, talking. Spinning a web of words, pale walls of dreams, between myself and all I see.

Talking, talking. Spinning a web of words, pale walls of dreams, between myself and all I see.

John Gardner
One must be just a little crazy to write a great novel. One must be capable of allowing the darkest, most ancient and shrewd parts of one’s being to take over the work from time to time.

One must be just a little crazy to write a great novel. One must be capable of allowing the darkest, most ancient and shrewd parts of one’s being to take over the work from time to time.

John Gardner
So childhood too feels good at first, before one happens to notice the terrible sameness, age after age.

So childhood too feels good at first, before one happens to notice the terrible sameness, age after age.

John Gardner
Fiction does not spring into the world fully grown, like Athena. It is the process of writing and rewriting that makes a fiction original, if not profound.

Fiction does not spring into the world fully grown, like Athena. It is the process of writing and rewriting that makes a fiction original, if not profound.

John Gardner
I cannot believe such monstrous energy of grief can lead to nothing!

I cannot believe such monstrous energy of grief can lead to nothing!

John Gardner
The world is all pointless accident... I exist, nothing else.

The world is all pointless accident... I exist, nothing else.

John Gardner
It would be, for me, mere pointless pleasure, an illusion of order for this one frail, foolish, flicker-flash in the long dull fall of eternity.

It would be, for me, mere pointless pleasure, an illusion of order for this one frail, foolish, flicker-flash in the long dull fall of eternity.

John Gardner
Art, of course, is a way of thinking, a way of mining reality.

Art, of course, is a way of thinking, a way of mining reality.

John Gardner
Our noblest hopes grow teeth and pursue us like tigers.

Our noblest hopes grow teeth and pursue us like tigers.

John Gardner
All to often, on the long road up, young leaders become servants of what is rather than shapers of what might be.

All to often, on the long road up, young leaders become servants of what is rather than shapers of what might be.

John Gardner
Mastery is not something that strikes in an instant, like a thunderbolt, but a gathering power that moves steadily through time, like weather.

Mastery is not something that strikes in an instant, like a thunderbolt, but a gathering power that moves steadily through time, like weather.

John Gardner
I know what's in your mind. I know everything. That's what makes me so sick and old and tired.

I know what's in your mind. I know everything. That's what makes me so sick and old and tired.

John Gardner
Stars, spattered out through lifeless night from end to end, like jewels scattered in a dead king's grave, tease, torment my wits toward meaningful patterns that do not exist.

Stars, spattered out through lifeless night from end to end, like jewels scattered in a dead king's grave, tease, torment my wits toward meaningful patterns that do not exist.

John Gardner
There is some realm where feelings become birds and dark sky, and spirit is more solid than stone.

There is some realm where feelings become birds and dark sky, and spirit is more solid than stone.

John Gardner
Poor Grendel's had an accident. So may you all.

Poor Grendel's had an accident. So may you all.

John Gardner
All order, I've come to understand, is theoretical, unreal — a harmless, sensible, smiling mask men slide between the two great, dark realities, the self and the world — two snake pits.

All order, I've come to understand, is theoretical, unreal — a harmless, sensible, smiling mask men slide between the two great, dark realities, the self and the world — two snake pits.

John Gardner
What art ought to do is tell stories which are moment-by-moment wonderful, which are true to human experience, and which in no way explain human experience.

What art ought to do is tell stories which are moment-by-moment wonderful, which are true to human experience, and which in no way explain human experience.

John Gardner
Standing on an open hill, I imagine muffled footsteps overhead.

Standing on an open hill, I imagine muffled footsteps overhead.

John Gardner
But dragons, my boy, have a whole different kind of mind.

But dragons, my boy, have a whole different kind of mind.

John Gardner
The chief offense in bad fiction: we sense that characters are being manipulated, forced to do things they would not really do.

The chief offense in bad fiction: we sense that characters are being manipulated, forced to do things they would not really do.

John Gardner
He had glimpsed a glorious ideal, had struggled toward it and seized it and come to understand it, and was disappointed. One could sympathize.

He had glimpsed a glorious ideal, had struggled toward it and seized it and come to understand it, and was disappointed. One could sympathize.

John Gardner
Bad art is always basically creepy; that is its first and most obvious identifying sign

Bad art is always basically creepy; that is its first and most obvious identifying sign

John Gardner
Fate often enough will spare a man if his courage holds.

Fate often enough will spare a man if his courage holds.

John Gardner
It's not easy to kill a mountain goat. He thinks with his spine.

It's not easy to kill a mountain goat. He thinks with his spine.

John Gardner
I should have cracked his skull mid song and sent his blood spraying out wet through the mead hall like a shocking change of key.

I should have cracked his skull mid song and sent his blood spraying out wet through the mead hall like a shocking change of key.

John Gardner
One has to be just a little crazy to write a great novel

One has to be just a little crazy to write a great novel

John Gardner
[the writer] must copy, with his finite mind, the process of the infinite 'I AM.

[the writer] must copy, with his finite mind, the process of the infinite 'I AM.

John Gardner
I have eaten several priests. They sit on the stomach like duck eggs.

I have eaten several priests. They sit on the stomach like duck eggs.

John Gardner
The best way in the world for breaking up a writer's block is to write a lot.

The best way in the world for breaking up a writer's block is to write a lot.

John Gardner
My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it.

My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it.

John Gardner
It is the nature of stupid people to hide their perplexity and attack what they cannot grasp.

It is the nature of stupid people to hide their perplexity and attack what they cannot grasp.

John Gardner
He could forget all these people, just like that, become fond again of strangers and leave them too.

He could forget all these people, just like that, become fond again of strangers and leave them too.

John Gardner
Not everyone is capable of writing junk fiction: It requires an authentic junk mind.

Not everyone is capable of writing junk fiction: It requires an authentic junk mind.

John Gardner
What true materialist would settle for a MacDonald's hamburger?

What true materialist would settle for a MacDonald's hamburger?

John Gardner
In the final analysis, real suspense comes with moral dilemma and the courage to make and act upon choices. False suspense comes from the accidental and meaningless occurrence of one damned thing after another.

In the final analysis, real suspense comes with moral dilemma and the courage to make and act upon choices. False suspense comes from the accidental and meaningless occurrence of one damned thing after another.

John Gardner
Mickelsson looked at her, surprised to discover that she was stupid.

Mickelsson looked at her, surprised to discover that she was stupid.

John Gardner
He was saner than anyone --had fallen out of the world of illusion: love, interesting work, hope for the future.

He was saner than anyone --had fallen out of the world of illusion: love, interesting work, hope for the future.

John Gardner
Most creative-writing teachers have had the experience of occasionally helping to produce, by accident, a pornographer.

Most creative-writing teachers have had the experience of occasionally helping to produce, by accident, a pornographer.

John Gardner
The writer is more servant than master of his story.

The writer is more servant than master of his story.

John Gardner
Where religious values might be relative, intellectual values fleeting, moral values ambiguous, and aesthetic values dependent upon an observer, the existence of any thing is infinite.

Where religious values might be relative, intellectual values fleeting, moral values ambiguous, and aesthetic values dependent upon an observer, the existence of any thing is infinite.

John Gardner
That is their happiness: they see all life without observing it. They’re buried in it like crabs in mud. Except men, of course. I am not in a mood, just yet, to talk of men.

That is their happiness: they see all life without observing it. They’re buried in it like crabs in mud. Except men, of course. I am not in a mood, just yet, to talk of men.

John Gardner
Yes! Clumly had thought. There it was. Whatever it meant, spiritualistic trash for old ladies or the roaring secret of life and death, for a minute there Clumly had believed he wanted to know.

Yes! Clumly had thought. There it was. Whatever it meant, spiritualistic trash for old ladies or the roaring secret of life and death, for a minute there Clumly had believed he wanted to know.

John Gardner
Heidegger’s parlamblings on ‘Nothing’ and ‘Not’ and ‘the Nothing that Nothings’ were the last supposedly respectable gasp of classical philosophy.

Heidegger’s parlamblings on ‘Nothing’ and ‘Not’ and ‘the Nothing that Nothings’ were the last supposedly respectable gasp of classical philosophy.

John Gardner
Only very odd people don’t realize that truth-telling is always a relative value.

Only very odd people don’t realize that truth-telling is always a relative value.

John Gardner
We move through a course on Dostoevsky or Poe as we move through a mildly good cocktail party...Art...is less like a cocktail party thank a tank of shark.

We move through a course on Dostoevsky or Poe as we move through a mildly good cocktail party...Art...is less like a cocktail party thank a tank of shark.

John Gardner
In the town, children go down on their backs in the  drifted snow and move their arms and, when they rise,  leave behind them impressions, mysterious and ominous,  of winged creatures.

In the town, children go down on their backs in the  drifted snow and move their arms and, when they rise,  leave behind them impressions, mysterious and ominous,  of winged creatures.

John Gardner