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100 Profound William Faulkner Quotes You Need To Know

Famous As: Regarded as One of the Most Significant American Writers of All Time
Born On: September 25, 1897
Died On: July 6, 1962
Born In: New Albany, Mississippi, United States
Died At Age: 64

One of the most celebrated American authors, William Faulkner was a Nobel Prize winning novelist. Faulkner, who's known for his exemplary contribution to Southern literature, wrote challenging prose and write-ups. Despite tough competition by Fitzgerald and Hemingway, this Mississippi born writer created a new identity for himself through the apocryphal 'Yoknapatawpha County'. Based on the legend of Lafayette County, Faulkner created Yoknapatawpha for fifty of his novels except 'A Fable', 'Soldier's Pay', 'The Wild Palms' and 'Pylon'. Faulkner highlighted major controversial matters related to class, race, sex and social ideologies in his best works-- 'The Sound and the Fury', 'Sanctuary', 'As I Lay Dying''Light in August', 'The Reivers' and 'A Rose for Emily'. A thorough humanitarian as he was, he donated a part of his Nobel money to Oxford bank for funding education of African-American teachers and creating the Faulkner Award for Fiction writing. This two-times Pulitzer and U.S. National Prize winner received a special mention in acceptance speech delivered by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The US postal services issued an exclusive 22-cent postal stamp in his honor, for he served as a postmaster at Mississippi University.

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Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.

Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.

William Faulkner
You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.

You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.

William Faulkner
We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.

William Faulkner
Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.

Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.

William Faulkner
The past is never dead. It's not even past.

The past is never dead. It's not even past.

William Faulkner
Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain.

Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain.

William Faulkner
In writing, you must kill all your darlings.

In writing, you must kill all your darlings.

William Faulkner
The saddest thing about love, Joe, is that not only the love cannot last forever, but even the heartbreak is soon forgotten.

The saddest thing about love, Joe, is that not only the love cannot last forever, but even the heartbreak is soon forgotten.

William Faulkner
Perhaps they were right putting love into books. Perhaps it could not live anywhere else.

Perhaps they were right putting love into books. Perhaps it could not live anywhere else.

William Faulkner
Talk, talk, talk: the utter and heartbreaking stupidity of words.

Talk, talk, talk: the utter and heartbreaking stupidity of words.

William Faulkner
The next time you try to seduce anyone, don't do it with talk, with words. Women know more about words than men ever will. And they know how little they can ever possibly mean.

The next time you try to seduce anyone, don't do it with talk, with words. Women know more about words than men ever will. And they know how little they can ever possibly mean.

William Faulkner
How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home.

How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home.

William Faulkner
I feel like a wet seed wild in the hot blind earth.

I feel like a wet seed wild in the hot blind earth.

William Faulkner
I'm bad and I'm going to hell, and I don't care. I'd rather be in hell than anywhere where you are.

I'm bad and I'm going to hell, and I don't care. I'd rather be in hell than anywhere where you are.

William Faulkner
Don't be 'a writer'. Be writing.

Don't be 'a writer'. Be writing.

William Faulkner
Memory believes before knowing remembers. Believes longer than recollects, longer than knowing even wonders.

Memory believes before knowing remembers. Believes longer than recollects, longer than knowing even wonders.

William Faulkner
Wonder. Go on and wonder.

Wonder. Go on and wonder.

William Faulkner
If a story is in you, it has to come out.

If a story is in you, it has to come out.

William Faulkner
Dreams have only one owner at a time. That's why dreamers are lonely.

Dreams have only one owner at a time. That's why dreamers are lonely.

William Faulkner
Clocks slay time... time is dead as long as it is being clicked off by little wheels; only when the clock stops does time come to life.

Clocks slay time... time is dead as long as it is being clicked off by little wheels; only when the clock stops does time come to life.

William Faulkner
You can't beat women anyhow and that if you are wise or dislike trouble and uproar you don't even try to.

You can't beat women anyhow and that if you are wise or dislike trouble and uproar you don't even try to.

William Faulkner
You don’t love because: you love despite; not for the virtues, but despite the faults.

You don’t love because: you love despite; not for the virtues, but despite the faults.

William Faulkner
Pouring out liquor is like burning books.

Pouring out liquor is like burning books.

William Faulkner
Once a bitch always a bitch, what I say.

Once a bitch always a bitch, what I say.

William Faulkner
Unless you're ashamed of yourself now and then, you're not honest

Unless you're ashamed of yourself now and then, you're not honest

William Faulkner
My mother is a fish.

My mother is a fish.

William Faulkner
Most men are a little better than their circumstances give them a chance to be.

Most men are a little better than their circumstances give them a chance to be.

William Faulkner
It's not when you realise that nothing can help you - religion, pride, anything - it's when you realise that you don't need any aid.

It's not when you realise that nothing can help you - religion, pride, anything - it's when you realise that you don't need any aid.

William Faulkner
A writer must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid.

A writer must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid.

William Faulkner
A man is the sum of his misfortunes. One day you'd think misfortune would get tired but then time is your misfortune

A man is the sum of his misfortunes. One day you'd think misfortune would get tired but then time is your misfortune

William Faulkner
A writer needs three things, experience, observation, and imagination, any two of which, at times any one of which, can supply the lack of the others.

A writer needs three things, experience, observation, and imagination, any two of which, at times any one of which, can supply the lack of the others.

William Faulkner
The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.

The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life.

William Faulkner
War and drink are the two things man is never too poor to buy.

War and drink are the two things man is never too poor to buy.

William Faulkner
It takes two people to make you, and one people to die. That's how the world is going to end.

It takes two people to make you, and one people to die. That's how the world is going to end.

William Faulkner
Some days in late August at home are like this, the air thin and eager like this, with something in it sad and nostalgic and familiar...

Some days in late August at home are like this, the air thin and eager like this, with something in it sad and nostalgic and familiar...

William Faulkner
A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station….

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station….

William Faulkner
Memory believes before knowing remembers.

[Light in August]

Memory believes before knowing remembers. [Light in August]

William Faulkner
The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.

William Faulkner
The best fiction is far more true than any journalism.

The best fiction is far more true than any journalism.

William Faulkner
There is no was.

There is no was.

William Faulkner
I never know what I think about something until I read what I've written on it.

I never know what I think about something until I read what I've written on it.

William Faulkner
...the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time.

...the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time.

William Faulkner
It is the writer's privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart.

It is the writer's privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart.

William Faulkner
If happy I can be I will, if suffer I must I can.

If happy I can be I will, if suffer I must I can.

William Faulkner
A gentleman accepts the responsibility of his actions and bears the burden of their consequences.

A gentleman accepts the responsibility of his actions and bears the burden of their consequences.

William Faulkner
Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything good.

Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything good.

William Faulkner
She loved him not only in spite of but because he himself was incapable of love.

She loved him not only in spite of but because he himself was incapable of love.

William Faulkner
Caddy got the box and set it on the floor and opened it. It was full of stars. When I was still, they were still. When I moved, they glinted and sparkled. I hushed.

Caddy got the box and set it on the floor and opened it. It was full of stars. When I was still, they were still. When I moved, they glinted and sparkled. I hushed.

William Faulkner
The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself

The only thing worth writing about is the human heart in conflict with itself

William Faulkner
Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.

Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.

William Faulkner
Memory believes before knowing remembers.

Memory believes before knowing remembers.

William Faulkner
An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn't know why they choose him and he's usually too busy to wonder why.

An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn't know why they choose him and he's usually too busy to wonder why.

William Faulkner
People to whom sin is just a matter of words, to them salvation is just words too.

People to whom sin is just a matter of words, to them salvation is just words too.

William Faulkner
You can't. You just have to.

You can't. You just have to.

William Faulkner
The problems of the human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat

The problems of the human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat

William Faulkner
The artist doesn't have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don't have the time to read reviews.

The artist doesn't have time to listen to the critics. The ones who want to be writers read the reviews, the ones who want to write don't have the time to read reviews.

William Faulkner
I could just remember how my father used to say that the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time.

I could just remember how my father used to say that the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time.

William Faulkner
I'd have wasted a lot of time and trouble before I learned that the best way to take all people, black or white, is to take them for what they think they are, then leave them alone.

I'd have wasted a lot of time and trouble before I learned that the best way to take all people, black or white, is to take them for what they think they are, then leave them alone.

William Faulkner
You intend to kiss me and yet you are going to all this damn trouble about it.

You intend to kiss me and yet you are going to all this damn trouble about it.

William Faulkner
And sure enough, even waiting will end...if you can just wait long enough.

And sure enough, even waiting will end...if you can just wait long enough.

William Faulkner
Now she hates me. I have taught her that, at least.

Now she hates me. I have taught her that, at least.

William Faulkner
We have to start teaching ourselves not to be afraid.

We have to start teaching ourselves not to be afraid.

William Faulkner
Love doesn't die; the men and women do.

Love doesn't die; the men and women do.

William Faulkner
Everything in Los Angeles is too large, too loud and usually banal in concept… The plastic asshole of the world.

Everything in Los Angeles is too large, too loud and usually banal in concept… The plastic asshole of the world.

William Faulkner
Dear God, let me be damned a little longer, a little while.

Dear God, let me be damned a little longer, a little while.

William Faulkner
It's all now you see: tomorrow began yesterday and yesterday won't be over until tomorrow.

It's all now you see: tomorrow began yesterday and yesterday won't be over until tomorrow.

William Faulkner
You should approach Joyce's Ulysses as the illiterate Baptist preacher approaches the Old Testament: with faith.

You should approach Joyce's Ulysses as the illiterate Baptist preacher approaches the Old Testament: with faith.

William Faulkner
And I will look down and see my murmuring bones and the deep water like wind, like a roof of wind, and after a long time they cannot distinguish even bones upon the lonely and inviolate sand.

And I will look down and see my murmuring bones and the deep water like wind, like a roof of wind, and after a long time they cannot distinguish even bones upon the lonely and inviolate sand.

William Faulkner
I love Virginians because Virginians are all snobs and I like snobs. A snob has to spend so much time being a snob that he has little time left to meddle with you.

I love Virginians because Virginians are all snobs and I like snobs. A snob has to spend so much time being a snob that he has little time left to meddle with you.

William Faulkner
Between grief and nothing, I will take grief.

Between grief and nothing, I will take grief.

William Faulkner
The reason you will not say it is, when you say it, even to yourself, you will know it is true.

The reason you will not say it is, when you say it, even to yourself, you will know it is true.

William Faulkner
He was looking at her from behind the smiling that wasn't smiling but was something you were not supposed to see beyond.

He was looking at her from behind the smiling that wasn't smiling but was something you were not supposed to see beyond.

William Faulkner
A mule will labor ten years willingly and patiently for you, for the privilege of kicking you once.

A mule will labor ten years willingly and patiently for you, for the privilege of kicking you once.

William Faulkner
Henry James was one of the nicest old ladies I ever met.

Henry James was one of the nicest old ladies I ever met.

William Faulkner
This does not matter. This is not anything yet. It all depends on what you do with it, afterward.

This does not matter. This is not anything yet. It all depends on what you do with it, afterward.

William Faulkner
It's terrible to be young. It's terrible. Terrible

It's terrible to be young. It's terrible. Terrible

William Faulkner
Caddy smelled like trees.

Caddy smelled like trees.

William Faulkner
Because no battle is ever won he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.

Because no battle is ever won he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.

William Faulkner
History is not was, it is.

History is not was, it is.

William Faulkner
I am not one of those women who can stand things.

I am not one of those women who can stand things.

William Faulkner
I say money has no value; it's just the way you spend it.

I say money has no value; it's just the way you spend it.

William Faulkner
She was the captain of her soul

She was the captain of her soul

William Faulkner
And even a liar can be scared into telling the truth, same as honest man can be tortured into telling a lie.

And even a liar can be scared into telling the truth, same as honest man can be tortured into telling a lie.

William Faulkner
I know now that what makes a fool is an inability to take even his own good advice.

I know now that what makes a fool is an inability to take even his own good advice.

William Faulkner
I am trying to say it all in one sentence, between one cap and one period.

I am trying to say it all in one sentence, between one cap and one period.

William Faulkner
War is an episode, a crisis, a fever the purpose of which is to rid the body of fever. So the purpose of a war is to end the war.

War is an episode, a crisis, a fever the purpose of which is to rid the body of fever. So the purpose of a war is to end the war.

William Faulkner
It's always the idle habits you acquire which you will regret. Father said that. That Christ was not crucified: he was worn away by a minute clicking of little wheels. That had no sister.

It's always the idle habits you acquire which you will regret. Father said that. That Christ was not crucified: he was worn away by a minute clicking of little wheels. That had no sister.

William Faulkner
I suppose that people, using themselves and each other so much by words, are at least consistent in attributing wisdom to a still tongue...

I suppose that people, using themselves and each other so much by words, are at least consistent in attributing wisdom to a still tongue...

William Faulkner
Everyone in the South has no time for reading because they are all too busy writing.

Everyone in the South has no time for reading because they are all too busy writing.

William Faulkner
To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race or color is like living in Alaska and being against snow.

To live anywhere in the world today and be against equality because of race or color is like living in Alaska and being against snow.

William Faulkner
She is like all the rest of them. Whether they are seventeen or fortyseven, when they finally come to surrender completely, it's going to be in words.

She is like all the rest of them. Whether they are seventeen or fortyseven, when they finally come to surrender completely, it's going to be in words.

William Faulkner
A writer is congenitally unable to tell the truth and that is why we call what he writes fiction.

A writer is congenitally unable to tell the truth and that is why we call what he writes fiction.

William Faulkner
She clung to that which had robbed her, as people do.

She clung to that which had robbed her, as people do.

William Faulkner
My, my. A body does get around.

My, my. A body does get around.

William Faulkner
If you could just ravel out into time. That would be nice. It would be nice if you could just ravel out into time

If you could just ravel out into time. That would be nice. It would be nice if you could just ravel out into time

William Faulkner
The scattered tea goes with the leaves and every day a sunset dies.

The scattered tea goes with the leaves and every day a sunset dies.

William Faulkner
Any live man is better than any dead man but no live or dead man is very much better than any other live or dead man

Any live man is better than any dead man but no live or dead man is very much better than any other live or dead man

William Faulkner
To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.

To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.

William Faulkner
When I have one martini, I feel bigger, wiser, taller. When I have a second, I feel superlative. When I have more, there's no holding me.

When I have one martini, I feel bigger, wiser, taller. When I have a second, I feel superlative. When I have more, there's no holding me.

William Faulkner
I took out my watch and listened to it clicking away, not knowing it couldn't even lie

I took out my watch and listened to it clicking away, not knowing it couldn't even lie

William Faulkner