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

62 Insightful Quotes By Walker Percy, The Renowned American Novelist

Famous As: Writer, Novelist, Philosopher
Born On: May 28, 1916
Died On: May 10, 1990
Born In: Birmingham
Died At Age: 73
Walker Percy was one of the most distinguished writers of the twentieth century. In his early life, Percy was saw the deaths of his immediate relatives and lived the life of an orphan kid. Percy lated received a medical degree from the Columbia University in New York. His career as an author began when he was rested with tuberculosis and started reading Soren Kierkegaard and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Percy’s thoughts, books, quotes, writings and novels were closely associated to the real world and the places he lived. His first novel, 'The Moviegoer’ bagged the National Book Award for Fiction in U.S. ‘The Last Gentleman’, ‘Love in the Ruins’, ‘Lancelot’, ‘The Second Coming’ and ‘The Thanatos Syndrome’ have been few of his notable books. He gained recognition for both his fiction and non-fiction works. His thoughts, quotations, sayings, work and writings revolved around exploring, ‘the dislocation of the man in Modern Age’. We have put together a collection of quotes from his life!
You can get all A's and still flunk life.

You can get all A's and still flunk life.

Walker Percy
Why did God make women so beautiful and man with such a loving heart?

Why did God make women so beautiful and man with such a loving heart?

Walker Percy
Before, I wandered as a diversion. Now I wander seriously and sit and read as a diversion.

Before, I wandered as a diversion. Now I wander seriously and sit and read as a diversion.

Walker Percy
Lucky is the man who does not secretly believe that every possibility is open to him.

Lucky is the man who does not secretly believe that every possibility is open to him.

Walker Percy
You live in a deranged age - more deranged than usual, because despite great scientific and technological advances, man has not the faintest idea of who he is or what he is doing.

You live in a deranged age - more deranged than usual, because despite great scientific and technological advances, man has not the faintest idea of who he is or what he is doing.

Walker Percy
My mother refused to let me fail. So I insisted.

My mother refused to let me fail. So I insisted.

Walker Percy
Losing hope is not so bad. There's something worse: losing hope and hiding it from yourself.

Losing hope is not so bad. There's something worse: losing hope and hiding it from yourself.

Walker Percy
I like to eat crawfish and drink beer. That's despair?

I like to eat crawfish and drink beer. That's despair?

Walker Percy
Jews wait for the Lord, Protestants sing hymns to him, Catholics say mass and eat him.

Jews wait for the Lord, Protestants sing hymns to him, Catholics say mass and eat him.

Walker Percy
Small disconnected facts, if you take note of them, have a way of becoming connected.

Small disconnected facts, if you take note of them, have a way of becoming connected.

Walker Percy
The fact is I am quite happy in a movie, even a bad movie. Other people, so I have read, treasure memorable moments in their lives...

The fact is I am quite happy in a movie, even a bad movie. Other people, so I have read, treasure memorable moments in their lives...

Walker Percy
Fiction doesn’t tell us something we don’t know, it tells us something we know but don’t know that we know.

Fiction doesn’t tell us something we don’t know, it tells us something we know but don’t know that we know.

Walker Percy
I couldn't stand it. I still can't stand it. I can't stand the way things are. I cannot tolerate this age.

I couldn't stand it. I still can't stand it. I can't stand the way things are. I cannot tolerate this age.

Walker Percy
To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair.

To become aware of the possibility of the search is to be onto something. Not to be onto something is to be in despair.

Walker Percy
Nobody but a Southerner knows the wrenching rinsing sadness of the cities of the North.

Nobody but a Southerner knows the wrenching rinsing sadness of the cities of the North.

Walker Percy
Where there is chance of gain, there is also chance of loss. Whenever one courts great happiness, one also risks malaise.

Where there is chance of gain, there is also chance of loss. Whenever one courts great happiness, one also risks malaise.

Walker Percy
There is no pain on this earth like seeing the same woman look at another man the way she once looked at you.

There is no pain on this earth like seeing the same woman look at another man the way she once looked at you.

Walker Percy
In this world goodness is destined to be defeated. But a man must go down fighting. That is the victory. To do anything less is to be less than a man.

In this world goodness is destined to be defeated. But a man must go down fighting. That is the victory. To do anything less is to be less than a man.

Walker Percy
Lost in the mystery of finding myself alive.

Lost in the mystery of finding myself alive.

Walker Percy
Not to be onto something is to be in despair.

Not to be onto something is to be in despair.

Walker Percy
Home may be where the heart is but it's no place to spend Wednesday afternoon.

Home may be where the heart is but it's no place to spend Wednesday afternoon.

Walker Percy
It is not a bad thing to settle for the Little Way, not the big search for the big happiness but the sad little happiness of drinks and kisses, a good little car and a warm deep thigh.

It is not a bad thing to settle for the Little Way, not the big search for the big happiness but the sad little happiness of drinks and kisses, a good little car and a warm deep thigh.

Walker Percy
It is possible, however, that the artist is both thin-skinned and prophetic and, like the canary lowered into the mine shaft to test the air, has caught a whiff of something lethal.

It is possible, however, that the artist is both thin-skinned and prophetic and, like the canary lowered into the mine shaft to test the air, has caught a whiff of something lethal.

Walker Percy
Why is it that one can look at a lion or a planet or an owl or at someone's finger as long as one pleases, but looking into the eyes of another person is, if prolonged past a second, a perilous affair?

Why is it that one can look at a lion or a planet or an owl or at someone's finger as long as one pleases, but looking into the eyes of another person is, if prolonged past a second, a perilous affair?

Walker Percy
I have discovered that most people have no one to talk to, no one, that is, who really wants to listen.

I have discovered that most people have no one to talk to, no one, that is, who really wants to listen.

Walker Percy
Suppose you ask God for a miracle and God says yes, very well. How do you live the rest of your life?

Suppose you ask God for a miracle and God says yes, very well. How do you live the rest of your life?

Walker Percy
At night the years come back and perch around my bed like ghosts.

At night the years come back and perch around my bed like ghosts.

Walker Percy
Being uneducated is no guarantee against being obnoxious.

Being uneducated is no guarantee against being obnoxious.

Walker Percy
Nowadays when a good-looking woman flirts with me, however idly, I guffaw like some ruddy English lord, haw haw, har har, harr harr.

Nowadays when a good-looking woman flirts with me, however idly, I guffaw like some ruddy English lord, haw haw, har har, harr harr.

Walker Percy
Have you noticed that only in time of illness or disaster or death are people real?

Have you noticed that only in time of illness or disaster or death are people real?

Walker Percy