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

141 Timeless Quotes By Ray Bradbury On Life, Joy & Failure

Famous As: One of the Most Celebrated 20th-Century American Writers Known for His Novel 'Fahrenheit 451'
Born On: August 22, 1920
Died On: June 5, 2012
Born In: Waukegan, Illinois, United States
Founder / Co Founder: Pandemonium
Died At Age: 91
Ray Douglas Bradbury was one of the most prolific American writers who made a name for himself in the science fiction, mystery fiction and horror genres. Being devoid of college education, he emphasized on the need for knowledge and literacy. Bradbury was famous for his novels such as ‘Fahrenheit 451’, ‘I Sing the Body Electric’, ‘The Illustrated Man’ and ‘The Martian Chronicles’. He was also the scriptwriter consultant for hit movies such as ‘Moby Dick’ and ‘It Came from Outer Space’. He went on to receive accolades such as American Academy of Arts and Letters, Daytime Emmy Award, National Medal of Arts and Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Majority of Bradbury’s works made their way into theatres, comic books and television. The New York Times designated Bradbury as the pioneer in translating modern science fiction into literary mainstream. He received the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush for his exceptional contribution in the field of literature. We have curated Bradbury’s notable quotes and thoughts from his writings. Let us browse through these quotes from this legend.
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You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.

You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.

Ray Bradbury
I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room.

I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room.

Ray Bradbury
You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.

Ray Bradbury
Why is it,

Why is it," he said, one time, at the subway entrance, "I feel I've known you so many years?" "Because I like you," she said, "and I don't want anything from you.

Ray Bradbury
We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.

We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.

Ray Bradbury
There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.

There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.

Ray Bradbury
Stuff your eyes with wonder, he said, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.

Stuff your eyes with wonder, he said, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.

Ray Bradbury
We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?

We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?

Ray Bradbury
There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.

There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.

Ray Bradbury
If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn.

If you hide your ignorance, no one will hit you and you'll never learn.

Ray Bradbury
Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.

Learning to let go should be learned before learning to get. Life should be touched, not strangled. You’ve got to relax, let it happen at times, and at others move forward with it.

Ray Bradbury
I'm seventeen and I'm crazy. My uncle says the two always go together. When people ask your age, he said, always say seventeen and insane.

I'm seventeen and I'm crazy. My uncle says the two always go together. When people ask your age, he said, always say seventeen and insane.

Ray Bradbury
Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't

Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't "try" to do things. You simply "must" do things.

Ray Bradbury
The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies.

The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies.

Ray Bradbury
Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were heading for shore.

Don't ask for guarantees. And don't look to be saved in any one thing, person, machine, or library. Do your own bit of saving, and if you drown, at least die knowing you were heading for shore.

Ray Bradbury
We are an impossibility in an impossible universe.

We are an impossibility in an impossible universe.

Ray Bradbury
The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.

The magic is only in what books say, how they stitched the patches of the universe together into one garment for us.

Ray Bradbury
Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.

Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way.

Ray Bradbury
Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage.

Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage.

Ray Bradbury
But you can't make people listen. They have to come round in their own time, wondering what happened and why the world blew up around them. It can't last.

But you can't make people listen. They have to come round in their own time, wondering what happened and why the world blew up around them. It can't last.

Ray Bradbury
A good night sleep, or a ten minute bawl, or a pint of chocolate ice cream, or all three together, is good medicine.

A good night sleep, or a ten minute bawl, or a pint of chocolate ice cream, or all three together, is good medicine.

Ray Bradbury
It was a pleasure to burn.

It was a pleasure to burn.

Ray Bradbury
All the women in my life have been librarians, English teachers and book sellers.

All the women in my life have been librarians, English teachers and book sellers.

Ray Bradbury
We have too many cellphones. We've got too many internets. We have got to get rid of those machines. We have too many machines now.

We have too many cellphones. We've got too many internets. We have got to get rid of those machines. We have too many machines now.

Ray Bradbury
There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.

There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.

Ray Bradbury

We've gotta become the Martians. I'm a Martian - I tell you to become Martians. And we've gotta go to Mars and civilize Mars and build a whole civilization on Mars and then move out, 300 years from now into the universe. And when we do that, we have a chance of living forever.

Ray Bradbury

If you know how to read, you have a complete education about life, then you know how to vote within a democracy. But if you don't know how to read, you don't know how to decide. That's the great thing about our country - we're a democracy of readers, and we should keep it that way.

Ray Bradbury
Bo Derek is a really good friend of mine, and I'd like to spend more time with her.

Bo Derek is a really good friend of mine, and I'd like to spend more time with her.

Ray Bradbury
If you're embarrassed because you have some notion about how men are supposed to behave, and it doesn't include weeping, then you have some personal work to do.

If you're embarrassed because you have some notion about how men are supposed to behave, and it doesn't include weeping, then you have some personal work to do.

Ray Bradbury
The answer to all writing, to any career for that matter, is love.

The answer to all writing, to any career for that matter, is love.

Ray Bradbury
Books are alive, you see. They're not dead, they're alive.

Books are alive, you see. They're not dead, they're alive.

Ray Bradbury
Electronic books are junk.

Electronic books are junk.

Ray Bradbury
When I was born in 1920, the auto was only 20 years old. Radio didn't exist. TV didn't exist. I was born at just the right time to write about all of these things.

When I was born in 1920, the auto was only 20 years old. Radio didn't exist. TV didn't exist. I was born at just the right time to write about all of these things.

Ray Bradbury
I have my favorite cat, who is my paperweight, on my desk while I am writing.

I have my favorite cat, who is my paperweight, on my desk while I am writing.

Ray Bradbury
I'm never going to go to Mars, but I've helped inspire, thank goodness, the people who built the rockets and sent our photographic equipment off to Mars.

I'm never going to go to Mars, but I've helped inspire, thank goodness, the people who built the rockets and sent our photographic equipment off to Mars.

Ray Bradbury
I've only written one science-fiction book: 'Fahrenheit 451.' That book is a book based on real facts and my hatred of people who destroy books.

I've only written one science-fiction book: 'Fahrenheit 451.' That book is a book based on real facts and my hatred of people who destroy books.

Ray Bradbury
Love is the answer to everything. It's the only reason to do anything. If you don't write stories you love, you'll never make it. If you don't write stories that other people love, you'll never make it.

Love is the answer to everything. It's the only reason to do anything. If you don't write stories you love, you'll never make it. If you don't write stories that other people love, you'll never make it.

Ray Bradbury
There's no one way to be creative. Any old way will work.

There's no one way to be creative. Any old way will work.

Ray Bradbury
I don't have a computer. A computer's a typewriter. I already have a typewriter.

I don't have a computer. A computer's a typewriter. I already have a typewriter.

Ray Bradbury
You can write a short story in two hours. Two hours a day, you have a novel in a year.

You can write a short story in two hours. Two hours a day, you have a novel in a year.

Ray Bradbury
Love is easy, and I love writing. You can't resist love. You get an idea, someone says something, and you're in love.

Love is easy, and I love writing. You can't resist love. You get an idea, someone says something, and you're in love.

Ray Bradbury
You pay a certain penalty for going your own way. A lot of people think you're nuts, and you're not as popular with girls as you should be.

You pay a certain penalty for going your own way. A lot of people think you're nuts, and you're not as popular with girls as you should be.

Ray Bradbury
I never ask anyone else's opinion. They don't count.

I never ask anyone else's opinion. They don't count.

Ray Bradbury
The great fun in my life has been getting up every morning and rushing to the typewriter because some new idea has hit me.

The great fun in my life has been getting up every morning and rushing to the typewriter because some new idea has hit me.

Ray Bradbury
Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.

Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.

Ray Bradbury
I'm not a serious person, and I don't like serious people.

I'm not a serious person, and I don't like serious people.

Ray Bradbury
Ideas excite me, and as soon as I get excited, the adrenaline gets going and the next thing I know I'm borrowing energy from the ideas themselves.

Ideas excite me, and as soon as I get excited, the adrenaline gets going and the next thing I know I'm borrowing energy from the ideas themselves.

Ray Bradbury
Collecting facts is important. Knowledge is important. But if you don't have an imagination to use the knowledge, civilization is nowhere.

Collecting facts is important. Knowledge is important. But if you don't have an imagination to use the knowledge, civilization is nowhere.

Ray Bradbury

After Hiroshima was bombed, I saw a photograph of the side of a house with the shadows of the people who had lived there burned into the wall from the intensity of the bomb. The people were gone, but their shadows remained.

Ray Bradbury

Look at the Chandra Levy case. It's become a Star Chamber. The major networks, the cable networks, they're being prosecutors. They're judges and jurors and executioners. Well, c'mon, that's ridiculous. But they're doing it.

Ray Bradbury
I got started as an actor when I was 12.

I got started as an actor when I was 12.

Ray Bradbury
I don't do research. I never have.

I don't do research. I never have.

Ray Bradbury
If you're living in your time, you cannot help but to write about the things that are important.

If you're living in your time, you cannot help but to write about the things that are important.

Ray Bradbury
I don't go around thinking I'm Ray Bradbury all the time.

I don't go around thinking I'm Ray Bradbury all the time.

Ray Bradbury
I think we're doing a dreadful job of educating.

I think we're doing a dreadful job of educating.

Ray Bradbury
My personal telephone book is a book of the dead now. I'm so old. Almost all of my friends have died, and I don't have the guts to take their names out of the book.

My personal telephone book is a book of the dead now. I'm so old. Almost all of my friends have died, and I don't have the guts to take their names out of the book.

Ray Bradbury
You don't read in your own field. You read in that field when you're young, so that you can learn.

You don't read in your own field. You read in that field when you're young, so that you can learn.

Ray Bradbury
I think the reason my stories have been so successful is that I have a strong sense of metaphor.

I think the reason my stories have been so successful is that I have a strong sense of metaphor.

Ray Bradbury
Any experience that touches you, in any particular way, is good. It can be a horrible experience.

Any experience that touches you, in any particular way, is good. It can be a horrible experience.

Ray Bradbury
Millions of students now, in all the schools of America, are reading science fiction and especially, thank God, 'The Martian Chronicles.'

Millions of students now, in all the schools of America, are reading science fiction and especially, thank God, 'The Martian Chronicles.'

Ray Bradbury
Facts are not interesting to me.

Facts are not interesting to me.

Ray Bradbury
All of us, no matter how we look born into this world, feel something like the Hunchback. It doesn't matter if you have a beautiful face or not.

All of us, no matter how we look born into this world, feel something like the Hunchback. It doesn't matter if you have a beautiful face or not.

Ray Bradbury
I have spent my life going from mania to mania. Somehow it has all paid off.

I have spent my life going from mania to mania. Somehow it has all paid off.

Ray Bradbury
The first stories I wrote when I was 12 were about Mars and landing on Mars.

The first stories I wrote when I was 12 were about Mars and landing on Mars.

Ray Bradbury
My favorite writers have been those who've said things well.

My favorite writers have been those who've said things well.

Ray Bradbury
I don't see myself as a philosopher. That's awfully boring.

I don't see myself as a philosopher. That's awfully boring.

Ray Bradbury
Libraries raised me.

Libraries raised me.

Ray Bradbury
If you dream the proper dreams, and share the myths with people, they will want to grow up to be like you.

If you dream the proper dreams, and share the myths with people, they will want to grow up to be like you.

Ray Bradbury
My goal is to entertain myself and others.

My goal is to entertain myself and others.

Ray Bradbury
All my stories are like the Greek and Roman myths, and the Egyptian myths, and the Old and New Testament.

All my stories are like the Greek and Roman myths, and the Egyptian myths, and the Old and New Testament.

Ray Bradbury
If I'd found out that Norman Mailer liked me. I'd have killed myself.

If I'd found out that Norman Mailer liked me. I'd have killed myself.

Ray Bradbury
My religion encompasses all religions. I believe in God, I believe in the universe. I believe you are god, I believe I am god; I believe the earth is god and the universe is god. We're all god.

My religion encompasses all religions. I believe in God, I believe in the universe. I believe you are god, I believe I am god; I believe the earth is god and the universe is god. We're all god.

Ray Bradbury
My business is to prevent the future.

My business is to prevent the future.

Ray Bradbury
I find it amusing that I'm on the Internet now, because I've criticized it, but mainly I've criticized it on the basis of, 'What are you going to do with it?'

I find it amusing that I'm on the Internet now, because I've criticized it, but mainly I've criticized it on the basis of, 'What are you going to do with it?'

Ray Bradbury
Scientists have to have a metaphor. All scientists start with imagination.

Scientists have to have a metaphor. All scientists start with imagination.

Ray Bradbury
We've gotta reinvest in space travel. We should've never left the moon.

We've gotta reinvest in space travel. We should've never left the moon.

Ray Bradbury
Americans are far more remarkable than we give ourselves credit for. We've been so busy damning ourselves for years. We've done it all, and yet we don't take credit for it.

Americans are far more remarkable than we give ourselves credit for. We've been so busy damning ourselves for years. We've done it all, and yet we don't take credit for it.

Ray Bradbury
I don't need to be vindicated, and I don't want attention.

I don't need to be vindicated, and I don't want attention.

Ray Bradbury
Touch a scientist and you touch a child.

Touch a scientist and you touch a child.

Ray Bradbury
You don't have to turn on the TV set. You don't have to work on the Internet. It's up to you.

You don't have to turn on the TV set. You don't have to work on the Internet. It's up to you.

Ray Bradbury
First grade is very cheap. It's the later grades where you have to spend a lot of money if you don't do it right.

First grade is very cheap. It's the later grades where you have to spend a lot of money if you don't do it right.

Ray Bradbury
It's lack that gives us inspiration. It's not fullness.

It's lack that gives us inspiration. It's not fullness.

Ray Bradbury
The major networks, the cable networks, they're being prosecutors. They're judges and jurors and executioners. Well, c'mon, that's ridiculous. But they're doing it.

The major networks, the cable networks, they're being prosecutors. They're judges and jurors and executioners. Well, c'mon, that's ridiculous. But they're doing it.

Ray Bradbury
Everybody has forgotten that Russia helped start the Second World War.

Everybody has forgotten that Russia helped start the Second World War.

Ray Bradbury
We've got to dumb America up again.

We've got to dumb America up again.

Ray Bradbury
When you're older you want to learn from other people.

When you're older you want to learn from other people.

Ray Bradbury
I don't control my writing - it controls me.

I don't control my writing - it controls me.

Ray Bradbury
I have total recall. I remember being born. I remember being in the womb, I remember being inside. Coming out was great.

I have total recall. I remember being born. I remember being in the womb, I remember being inside. Coming out was great.

Ray Bradbury
Burroughs is crap. Crap.

Burroughs is crap. Crap.

Ray Bradbury
Once the automobile appeared you could have predicted that it would destroy as many people as it did.

Once the automobile appeared you could have predicted that it would destroy as many people as it did.

Ray Bradbury
You can't try to do things; you simply must do them.

You can't try to do things; you simply must do them.

Ray Bradbury
Everything is my demon muse. I have a muse which whispers in my ear and says, 'Do this, do that,' but it's my demon who provokes me.

Everything is my demon muse. I have a muse which whispers in my ear and says, 'Do this, do that,' but it's my demon who provokes me.

Ray Bradbury
If an idea isn't exciting, you shouldn't do it.

If an idea isn't exciting, you shouldn't do it.

Ray Bradbury
'Fahrenheit 451' postulates a lot of things I didn't want to have happen.

'Fahrenheit 451' postulates a lot of things I didn't want to have happen.

Ray Bradbury
The best scientist is open to experience and begins with romance - the idea that anything is possible.

The best scientist is open to experience and begins with romance - the idea that anything is possible.

Ray Bradbury
We are anthill men upon an anthill world.

We are anthill men upon an anthill world.

Ray Bradbury
I used to take my short stories to girls' homes and read them to them. Can you imagine the reaction reading a short story to a girl instead of pawing her?

I used to take my short stories to girls' homes and read them to them. Can you imagine the reaction reading a short story to a girl instead of pawing her?

Ray Bradbury
I love all of the arts. I love motion pictures. I love stage. I love theater.

I love all of the arts. I love motion pictures. I love stage. I love theater.

Ray Bradbury
When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money.

When I graduated from high school, it was during the Depression and we had no money.

Ray Bradbury
I'm not in control of my muse. My muse does all the work.

I'm not in control of my muse. My muse does all the work.

Ray Bradbury
We're all dreamers.

We're all dreamers.

Ray Bradbury
I couldn't go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.

I couldn't go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.

Ray Bradbury