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100 Notable Quotes By Horror Author Stephen King

Famous As: A Prolific & Immensely Popular Author of Horror Fiction
Born On: September 21, 1947
Born In: Portland, Maine, United States
Age: 75 Years
Stephen King is a famous American writer known for his prolific writing in the genre of horror, science fiction and suspense. He was interested in reading horror stories since an early age and used to write and sell stories to his friends. During the early days of his career he worked as an English teacher while writing in his leisure time. His first novel ‘Carrie’ turned out to be a hit and was instrumental in establishing his reputation as a writer. His next novel ‘The Shining’, a horror thriller, became his first best-seller. It is believed to have played a significant role in establishing his successful career as a horror writer. He further enhanced his reputation with a ‘World Fantasy Award’ winning novel titled ‘Pet Sematary’. The novel was critically appreciated and adapted into a movie by the same name. He followed up with various other successful novels to justify his reputation as a writer. His next most notable novel was ‘Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption’ which was successfully adapted into a movie called ‘Shawshank Redemption’ which received multiple ‘Academy Award’ nominations. He continues to publish successful novels to fascinate the masses with his writing skills, work and thoughts. We have curated some of his most famous quotes from his writings and films. Go through the quotes and sayings by Stephen King that are aimed to magnify the significance of books and writing.
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Books are a uniquely portable magic.

Books are a uniquely portable magic.

Stephen King
If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.

If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.

Stephen King
Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.

Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.

Stephen King
Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.

Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.

Stephen King
Good books don't give up all their secrets at once.

Good books don't give up all their secrets at once.

Stephen King
The road to hell is paved with adverbs.

The road to hell is paved with adverbs.

Stephen King
Fiction is the truth inside the lie.

Fiction is the truth inside the lie.

Stephen King
The scariest moment is always just before you start.

The scariest moment is always just before you start.

Stephen King
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.

Stephen King
You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.

You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.

Stephen King
I think that we're all mentally ill. Those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better - and maybe not all that much better after all.

I think that we're all mentally ill. Those of us outside the asylums only hide it a little better - and maybe not all that much better after all.

Stephen King
If you liked being a teenager, there's something really wrong with you.

If you liked being a teenager, there's something really wrong with you.

Stephen King
A short story is a different thing all together - a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger.

A short story is a different thing all together - a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger.

Stephen King
Alone. Yes, that's the key word, the most awful word in the English tongue. Murder doesn't hold a candle to it and hell is only a poor synonym.

Alone. Yes, that's the key word, the most awful word in the English tongue. Murder doesn't hold a candle to it and hell is only a poor synonym.

Stephen King
Speaking personally, you can have my gun, but you'll take my book when you pry my cold, dead fingers off of the binding.

Speaking personally, you can have my gun, but you'll take my book when you pry my cold, dead fingers off of the binding.

Stephen King
The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn't real. I know that, and I also know that if I'm careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never be able to grab my ankle.

The thing under my bed waiting to grab my ankle isn't real. I know that, and I also know that if I'm careful to keep my foot under the covers, it will never be able to grab my ankle.

Stephen King
Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman's got to hold on to.

Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman's got to hold on to.

Stephen King
Go then, there are other worlds than these.

Go then, there are other worlds than these.

Stephen King
That wasn't any act of God. That was an act of pure human fuckery.

That wasn't any act of God. That was an act of pure human fuckery.

Stephen King
Humor is almost always anger with its make-up on.

Humor is almost always anger with its make-up on.

Stephen King
A little talent is a good thing to have if you want to be a writer. But the only real requirement is the ability to remember every scar.

A little talent is a good thing to have if you want to be a writer. But the only real requirement is the ability to remember every scar.

Stephen King
Remember, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

Remember, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

Stephen King
Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.

Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.

Stephen King
Hearts can break. Yes, hearts can break. Sometimes I think it would be better if we died when they did, but we don't.

Hearts can break. Yes, hearts can break. Sometimes I think it would be better if we died when they did, but we don't.

Stephen King
There's no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids.

There's no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids.

Stephen King
The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

Stephen King
Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Stephen King
We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.

We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.

Stephen King
Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.

Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.

Stephen King
Nobody likes a clown at midnight

Nobody likes a clown at midnight

Stephen King
Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.

Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.

Stephen King
Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not.

Time takes it all, whether you want it to or not.

Stephen King
When all else fails, give up and go to the library.

When all else fails, give up and go to the library.

Stephen King
We lie best when we lie to ourselves.

We lie best when we lie to ourselves.

Stephen King
Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.

Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.

Stephen King
Sometimes human places, create inhuman monsters.

Sometimes human places, create inhuman monsters.

Stephen King
Schizoid behavior is a pretty common thing in children. It's accepted, because all we adults have this unspoken agreement that children are lunatics.

Schizoid behavior is a pretty common thing in children. It's accepted, because all we adults have this unspoken agreement that children are lunatics.

Stephen King
FEAR stands for fuck everything and run.

FEAR stands for fuck everything and run.

Stephen King
There's no harm in hoping for the best as long as you're prepared for the worst.

There's no harm in hoping for the best as long as you're prepared for the worst.

Stephen King
The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool.

The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool.

Stephen King
Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.

Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.

Stephen King
The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there...and still on your feet.

The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there...and still on your feet.

Stephen King
You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants.

You can't deny laughter; when it comes, it plops down in your favorite chair and stays as long as it wants.

Stephen King
Your hair is winter fire
January embers
My heart burns there, too.

Your hair is winter fire January embers My heart burns there, too.

Stephen King
And will I tell you that these three lived happily ever after? I will not, for no one ever does. But there was happiness. And they did live.

And will I tell you that these three lived happily ever after? I will not, for no one ever does. But there was happiness. And they did live.

Stephen King
Life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around.

Life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around.

Stephen King
Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.

Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.

Stephen King
Give me just enough information so that I can lie convincingly.

Give me just enough information so that I can lie convincingly.

Stephen King
Fault always lies in the same place: with him weak enough to lay blame.

Fault always lies in the same place: with him weak enough to lay blame.

Stephen King
Time takes it all whether you want it to or not, time takes it all. Time bares it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.

Time takes it all whether you want it to or not, time takes it all. Time bares it away, and in the end there is only darkness. Sometimes we find others in that darkness, and sometimes we lose them there again.

Stephen King
Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life.

Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life.

Stephen King
It was the possibility of darkness that made the day seem so bright.

It was the possibility of darkness that made the day seem so bright.

Stephen King
Just remember that Dumbo didn't need the feather; the magic was in him.

Just remember that Dumbo didn't need the feather; the magic was in him.

Stephen King
People who try hard to do the right thing always seem mad.

People who try hard to do the right thing always seem mad.

Stephen King
Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.

Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.

Stephen King
Friends don’t spy; true friendship is about privacy, too.

Friends don’t spy; true friendship is about privacy, too.

Stephen King
Perfect paranoia is perfect awareness.

Perfect paranoia is perfect awareness.

Stephen King
I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries.

I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries.

Stephen King
God is cruel. Sometimes he makes you live.

God is cruel. Sometimes he makes you live.

Stephen King
High school isn't a very important place. When you're going you think it's a big deal, but when it's over nobody really thinks it was great unless they're beered up.

High school isn't a very important place. When you're going you think it's a big deal, but when it's over nobody really thinks it was great unless they're beered up.

Stephen King
We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why.

We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why.

Stephen King
God grant me to SERENITY to accept what I cannot change the TENACITY to change what I may and the GOOD LUCK not to f*** up too often

God grant me to SERENITY to accept what I cannot change the TENACITY to change what I may and the GOOD LUCK not to f*** up too often

Stephen King
The mind can calculate, but the spirit yearns, and the heart knows what the heart knows

The mind can calculate, but the spirit yearns, and the heart knows what the heart knows

Stephen King
I tend to scare myself.

I tend to scare myself.

Stephen King
You cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you.

You cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you.

Stephen King
Sometimes there is absolutely no difference at all between salvation and damnation.

Sometimes there is absolutely no difference at all between salvation and damnation.

Stephen King
Fighting for peace, is like f***ing for chastity

Fighting for peace, is like f***ing for chastity

Stephen King
It is the tale, not he who tells it.

It is the tale, not he who tells it.

Stephen King
No one ever does live happily ever after, but we leave the children to find that out for themselves.

No one ever does live happily ever after, but we leave the children to find that out for themselves.

Stephen King
She can't help it,' he said. 'She's got the soul of a poet and the emotional makeup of a junkyard dog.

She can't help it,' he said. 'She's got the soul of a poet and the emotional makeup of a junkyard dog.

Stephen King
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.

Stephen King
Talent is a wonderful thing, but it won't carry a quitter.

Talent is a wonderful thing, but it won't carry a quitter.

Stephen King
It's strange how pain marks our faces, and makes us look like family.

It's strange how pain marks our faces, and makes us look like family.

Stephen King
Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

Stephen King
You want to remember that while you're judging the book, the book is also judging you.

You want to remember that while you're judging the book, the book is also judging you.

Stephen King
Time's the thief of memory

Time's the thief of memory

Stephen King
Dolls with no little girls around to mind them were sort of creepy under any conditions.

Dolls with no little girls around to mind them were sort of creepy under any conditions.

Stephen King
Do you drink?

Do you drink?" "Of course,I just said I was a writer.

Stephen King
Words create sentences; sentences create paragraphs; sometimes paragraphs quicken and begin to breathe.

Words create sentences; sentences create paragraphs; sometimes paragraphs quicken and begin to breathe.

Stephen King
The only mortal sin is giving up.

The only mortal sin is giving up.

Stephen King
Control the things you can control, maggot. Let everything else take a flying fuck at you and if you must go down, go down with your guns blazing.

Control the things you can control, maggot. Let everything else take a flying fuck at you and if you must go down, go down with your guns blazing.

Stephen King
We all float down here!

We all float down here!

Stephen King
Your job isn't to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.

Your job isn't to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.

Stephen King
Am I weird?

Am I weird?" "Yeah. But so what? Everybody's weird.

Stephen King
Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste completely different.

Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste completely different.

Stephen King
If I kept saying it; if I kept reaching out. My accident really taught me just one thing: the only way to go on is to go on. To say 'I can do this' even when you know you can't.

If I kept saying it; if I kept reaching out. My accident really taught me just one thing: the only way to go on is to go on. To say 'I can do this' even when you know you can't.

Stephen King
I write to find out what I think.

I write to find out what I think.

Stephen King
When it comes to the past, everyone writes fiction.

When it comes to the past, everyone writes fiction.

Stephen King
People don't get better, they just get smarter. When you get smarter you don't stop pulling the wings off flies, you just think of better reasons for doing it.

People don't get better, they just get smarter. When you get smarter you don't stop pulling the wings off flies, you just think of better reasons for doing it.

Stephen King
We're here to fuck shit up

We're here to fuck shit up

Stephen King
A person can't change all at once.

A person can't change all at once.

Stephen King
Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up.

Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up.

Stephen King
Reading a good long novel is in many ways like having a long and satisfying affair

Reading a good long novel is in many ways like having a long and satisfying affair

Stephen King
A coward judges all he sees by what he is.

A coward judges all he sees by what he is.

Stephen King
If I have to spend time in purgatory before going to one place or the other, I guess I'll be all right as long as there's a lending library.

If I have to spend time in purgatory before going to one place or the other, I guess I'll be all right as long as there's a lending library.

Stephen King
Sometimes dead is better

Sometimes dead is better

Stephen King
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. When you find something at which you have talent, you do that thing (what ever it is) until your fingers bleed or your eyes pop out of your head.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. When you find something at which you have talent, you do that thing (what ever it is) until your fingers bleed or your eyes pop out of your head.

Stephen King
Do it for joy and you can do it forever

Do it for joy and you can do it forever

Stephen King
If there is love, smallpox scars are as pretty as dimples. I'll love your face no matter what it looks like. Because it's yours.

If there is love, smallpox scars are as pretty as dimples. I'll love your face no matter what it looks like. Because it's yours.

Stephen King
Reading in bed can be heaven, assuming you can get just the right amount of light on the page and aren't prone to spilling your coffee or cognac on the sheets.

Reading in bed can be heaven, assuming you can get just the right amount of light on the page and aren't prone to spilling your coffee or cognac on the sheets.

Stephen King