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

100 Inspirational Quotes By Joyce Carol Oates, The Author Of We Were The Mulvaneys

Famous As: Writer
Born On: June 16, 1938
Born In: Lockport, New York, United States
Age: 85 Years

Winner of a National Book Award, two O. Henry Awards, and the National Humanities Medal apart from five Pulitzer Prize nominations, Joyce Carol Oates need no introduction. Her brilliant piece of work says much about her acclaimed writing career that has created a niche for her as an American writer, novelist, essayist and playwright. Oates is a prodigious writer and was born with a love for literature and writing. Lewis Carroll’s book, ‘Alice's Adventures in Wonderland’ caused the most profound literary influence that changed the course of her life. And rest as they say is history. Oates began writing when she was 14. She made her debut in 1963 with the short story, ‘By the North Gate’. Ever since then, Oates has penned more than 40 novels, plays, poetry, non-fiction and short stories. Her most famous novel is ‘We Were the Mulvaneys’. Most of her works revolve around the theme of rural poverty, sexual abuse, class tensions, desire for power, female childhood and adolescence, and occasionally supernatural. Violence also features as a constant in her work. These themes are also visible in her quotes that say much of life and living. Go through his section and get inspired with a new perspective of life through some of Joyce Carol Oates’ quotes.

Listed In:
I never change, I simply become more myself.

I never change, I simply become more myself.

Joyce Carol Oates
Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice, another's soul.

Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another's skin, another's voice, another's soul.

Joyce Carol Oates
The best revenge is living well without you.

The best revenge is living well without you.

Joyce Carol Oates
The worst thing: to give yourself away in exchange for not enough love.

The worst thing: to give yourself away in exchange for not enough love.

Joyce Carol Oates
Loneliness is like starvation: you don't realize how hungry you are until you begin to eat.

Loneliness is like starvation: you don't realize how hungry you are until you begin to eat.

Joyce Carol Oates
See, people come into your life for a reason. They might not know it themselves, why. You might not know it. But there's a reason. There has to be

See, people come into your life for a reason. They might not know it themselves, why. You might not know it. But there's a reason. There has to be

Joyce Carol Oates
In love there are two things - bodies and words.

In love there are two things - bodies and words.

Joyce Carol Oates
A daydreamer is prepared for most things.

A daydreamer is prepared for most things.

Joyce Carol Oates
He was ugly, himself. Weird-ugly. But ugliness in a man doesn't matter, much. Ugliness in a woman is her life.

He was ugly, himself. Weird-ugly. But ugliness in a man doesn't matter, much. Ugliness in a woman is her life.

Joyce Carol Oates
Keep a light, hopeful heart. But ­expect the worst.

Keep a light, hopeful heart. But ­expect the worst.

Joyce Carol Oates
We work in the dark—we do what we can—we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.

We work in the dark—we do what we can—we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.

Joyce Carol Oates
Keeing busy

Keeing busy" is the remedy for all the ills in America. It's also the means by which the creative impulse is destroyed.

Joyce Carol Oates
Writing is a consequence of having been 'haunted' by material. Why this is, no one knows.

Writing is a consequence of having been 'haunted' by material. Why this is, no one knows.

Joyce Carol Oates
Every scar in my face is worth it.

Every scar in my face is worth it.

Joyce Carol Oates
I had forgotten that time wasn't fixed like concrete but in fact was fluid as sand, or water. I had forgotten that even misery can end.

I had forgotten that time wasn't fixed like concrete but in fact was fluid as sand, or water. I had forgotten that even misery can end.

Joyce Carol Oates
If I try to summon back his face, the sound of his voice, and the sensation in my stomach like a key turning in a lock when he touched me, I lose everything.

If I try to summon back his face, the sound of his voice, and the sensation in my stomach like a key turning in a lock when he touched me, I lose everything.

Joyce Carol Oates
She wasn't in love but she would love him, if that would save her.

She wasn't in love but she would love him, if that would save her.

Joyce Carol Oates
I have forced myself to begin writing when I've been utterly exhausted, when I've felt my soul as thin as a playing card…and somehow the activity of writing changes everything.

I have forced myself to begin writing when I've been utterly exhausted, when I've felt my soul as thin as a playing card…and somehow the activity of writing changes everything.

Joyce Carol Oates
Read widely, and without apology. Read what you want to read, not what someone tells you you should read.

Read widely, and without apology. Read what you want to read, not what someone tells you you should read.

Joyce Carol Oates
Of our hurts we make monuments of survival. If we survive.

Of our hurts we make monuments of survival. If we survive.

Joyce Carol Oates
Death is just the last scene of the last act.

Death is just the last scene of the last act.

Joyce Carol Oates
If you are a writer you locate yourself behind a wall of silence and no matter what you are doing, driving a car or walking or doing housework you can still be writing, because you have that space.

If you are a writer you locate yourself behind a wall of silence and no matter what you are doing, driving a car or walking or doing housework you can still be writing, because you have that space.

Joyce Carol Oates
My self is all to me. I don't have any need of you.

My self is all to me. I don't have any need of you.

Joyce Carol Oates
We are linked by blood, and blood is memory without language.

We are linked by blood, and blood is memory without language.

Joyce Carol Oates
It feels good, honey, but it isn't love.

It feels good, honey, but it isn't love.

Joyce Carol Oates
Which is why we say I can't live without you meaning your life gives life to me, who am otherwise an empty vessel, nameless.

Which is why we say I can't live without you meaning your life gives life to me, who am otherwise an empty vessel, nameless.

Joyce Carol Oates
I could EAT YOUR HEART & asshole you'd never know it.

I could EAT YOUR HEART & asshole you'd never know it.

Joyce Carol Oates
How mysterious it is, to be in love. For you can be in love with one who knows nothing of you. Perhpas our greatest happinesses spring from such longings-being in love with one who is oblivious of you.

How mysterious it is, to be in love. For you can be in love with one who knows nothing of you. Perhpas our greatest happinesses spring from such longings-being in love with one who is oblivious of you.

Joyce Carol Oates
Exotic: meaning you're

Exotic: meaning you're "desired." For madness is seductive, sexy. Female madness. So long as the female is reasonably young and attractive.

Joyce Carol Oates
The ideal art, the noblest of art: working with the complexities of life, refusing to simplify, to

The ideal art, the noblest of art: working with the complexities of life, refusing to simplify, to "overcome" doubt.

Joyce Carol Oates