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45 Notable Quotes By Peter De Vries

Famous As: Novelist
Born On: February 27, 1910
Died On: September 28, 1993
Born In: Chicago
Died At Age: 83
Popularly known for his satirical wit, Peter De Vries was an American editor and writer, tagged as the “funniest writer on religion ever”. With over 23 novels, he gained recognition due to his works ‘The Tunnel of Love’ and ‘The Blood of the Lamb’, along with various short stories, reviews, poetry, essays, plays. Many of his novels such as How Do I Love Thee?, Pete 'n' Tillie and Reuben, Reuben have made their way into the film theatres. During his struggling days, he supported himself with odd jobs working as vending machine operator, toffee-apple salesman and radio actor before getting hired by the Poetry magazine as an editor. De Vries was also inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters apart from honorary recognition from Susquehanna University. Before working briefly for the CIA, he attained the rank of captain in the U.S. Marines during his service in the Second World War, under the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). We have curated his notable quotes and sayings from his popular and famous books. Here is an exclusive collection of famous quotes from this witty American novelist
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Everybody hates me because I'm so universally liked.

Everybody hates me because I'm so universally liked.

Peter De Vries
I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork.

I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork.

Peter De Vries
The value of marriage is not that adults produce children, but that children produce adults.

The value of marriage is not that adults produce children, but that children produce adults.

Peter De Vries
What people believe is a measure of what they suffer.

What people believe is a measure of what they suffer.

Peter De Vries
Human nature is pretty shabby stuff, as you may know from introspection.

Human nature is pretty shabby stuff, as you may know from introspection.

Peter De Vries
Life is a zoo in a jungle

Life is a zoo in a jungle

Peter De Vries
Before the mind snaps, or the heart breaks, it gather itself like a clock about to strike. It might even be said one pulls himself together to disintegrate.

Before the mind snaps, or the heart breaks, it gather itself like a clock about to strike. It might even be said one pulls himself together to disintegrate.

Peter De Vries
I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning.

I write when I'm inspired, and I see to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning.

Peter De Vries
There are times when parenthood seems nothing more than feeding the hand that bites you.

There are times when parenthood seems nothing more than feeding the hand that bites you.

Peter De Vries
It is the final proof of God's omnipotence that he need not exist in order to save us.

It is the final proof of God's omnipotence that he need not exist in order to save us.

Peter De Vries
The universe is like a safe to which there is a combination. But the combination is locked up in the safe.

The universe is like a safe to which there is a combination. But the combination is locked up in the safe.

Peter De Vries
Who of us is mature enough for offspring before the offspring themselves arrive? The value of [parenthood] is not that adults produce children but that children produce adults.

Who of us is mature enough for offspring before the offspring themselves arrive? The value of [parenthood] is not that adults produce children but that children produce adults.

Peter De Vries
We are not primarily put on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through.

We are not primarily put on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through.

Peter De Vries
My father hated radio and could not wait for television to be invented so he could hate that too.

My father hated radio and could not wait for television to be invented so he could hate that too.

Peter De Vries
I made a tentative conclusion. It seemed from all of this that uppermost among human joys is the negative one of restoration: not going to the stars, but learning that one may stay where one is.

I made a tentative conclusion. It seemed from all of this that uppermost among human joys is the negative one of restoration: not going to the stars, but learning that one may stay where one is.

Peter De Vries
A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetric-ally once, and by car forever after.

A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetric-ally once, and by car forever after.

Peter De Vries
The murals in restaurants are on par with the food in museums.

The murals in restaurants are on par with the food in museums.

Peter De Vries
Why is the awfulness of families such a popular reason for starting another?

Why is the awfulness of families such a popular reason for starting another?

Peter De Vries
We all learn by experience, but some of us have to go to summer school.

We all learn by experience, but some of us have to go to summer school.

Peter De Vries
So we were back in the Children's Pavilion, and there was again the familiar scene: the mothers with their nearly dead, the false face of mercy, the Slaughter of the Innocents.

So we were back in the Children's Pavilion, and there was again the familiar scene: the mothers with their nearly dead, the false face of mercy, the Slaughter of the Innocents.

Peter De Vries
Let us hope...that a kind Providence will put a speedy end to the acts of God under which we have been laboring.

Let us hope...that a kind Providence will put a speedy end to the acts of God under which we have been laboring.

Peter De Vries
The greatest experience open to man then is the recovery of the commonplace. Coffee in the morning and whiskeys in the evening again without fear. Books to read without that shadow falling across the page.

The greatest experience open to man then is the recovery of the commonplace. Coffee in the morning and whiskeys in the evening again without fear. Books to read without that shadow falling across the page.

Peter De Vries
Deep down, he's shallow.

Deep down, he's shallow.

Peter De Vries
Confession is good for the soul only in the sense that a tweed coat is good for dandruff - it is a palliative rather than a remedy.

Confession is good for the soul only in the sense that a tweed coat is good for dandruff - it is a palliative rather than a remedy.

Peter De Vries
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Peter De Vries
You believe what you must in order to stave off the conviction that it's all a tale told by an idiot

You believe what you must in order to stave off the conviction that it's all a tale told by an idiot

Peter De Vries
Let us hope, that a kind Providence will put a speedy end to the acts of God under which we have been laboring.

Let us hope, that a kind Providence will put a speedy end to the acts of God under which we have been laboring.

Peter De Vries
I wanted to be bored to death, as good a way to go as any.

I wanted to be bored to death, as good a way to go as any.

Peter De Vries
The rich aren't like us, they pay less taxes.

The rich aren't like us, they pay less taxes.

Peter De Vries
When I can no longer bear to think of the victims of broken homes, I begin to think of the victims of intact ones.

When I can no longer bear to think of the victims of broken homes, I begin to think of the victims of intact ones.

Peter De Vries