Jonathan Carroll
Both young children and old people have a lot of time on their hands. That's probably why they get along so well.Collection: Time
The Viennese wash everything. Where else in the world does the government hire public servants to wash public telephone booths and the glass over traffic lights? Every time I see someone doing these things, I smile like a child.Collection: Smile
Even the handsomest men do not have the same momentary effect on the world as a truly beautiful woman does.Collection: Men
Krakow is one of my favorite places on earth. It is a medieval city full of young people. A wonderful, striking combination.
I don't like to have to pan for gold when I read.
In Poland, my audience is all women between 18 and 30. At U.S. conventions, you have the fantasy and science fiction crowd. At Harvard you have an entirely different audience. It's so schizophrenic.
It's always fun to walk down the street with or behind a really beautiful woman, for no reason other than to see how the world reacts to them.
For an adult, eating alone at McDonald's is admitting a kind of defeat.
May this house stand until an ant drinks the ocean and a tortoise circles the world.
People who truly love us can be divided into two categories: those who understand us, and those who forgive us our worst sins. Rarely do you find someone capable of both.
It took me less than half a lifetime to realize that regret is one of the few guaranteed certainties. Sooner or later everything is touched by it, despite our naive and senseless hope that just this time we will be spared its cold hand on our heart.
You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip.
At a Boston signing, someone from the audience asked why I was so obsessed with furniture in my books. The question rattled around in my head. I had no idea that I was obsessed with furniture.
Coffee on an airplane always smells bad. Whenever it is served, suddenly the whole cabin stinks of it.
Everyone coming out of a perfume store is smelling the back of their hand.
I feel like a cliche.
I find you write with one person in mind. Usually for me that one person is my wife, because she's my most severe critic and understands best what I'm trying to do.
I have never heard anyone say This is it. I know right now is the high point of my life. It will never get any better. Only in retrospect do we recognize the best times and of course then it is too late.
I read less of everything now. With only fond memories of others' work, it will be interesting to give my own journal writing a try now.
I write about what interests me. It's very dangerous when you try to satisfy an audience.
I've never seen myself as a fantasy writer - ever.
If I don't feel like writing today or for a few days, I don't. And I don't think about it. It is not an obligation-it is the greatest privilege.
Just write about what bites you and damn the rest.
Most men, no matter how well or badly dressed, carry overstuffed, beat up wallets that should have been replaced years ago. Why is that? Every time I see a guy take out a wallet anywhere, it looks like a piece of old melted chocolate cake-with strings.
Old people are often impatient, but for what?
One of the saddest realities is that we never know when our lives are at their peak. Only after it is over and we have some kind of perspective do we realize how good we had it a day, a month, five years ago.
People are always waiting to be discovered.
Salzburg... is a mountain town with a rushing river running right through the center, everything in the rain various shades of green and brown.
The Wilmington, Delaware, television station that bills itself as The Family Minded Station is Channel 69.
There's almost always a point in a book where something happens that triggers the rest of the plot.
Very often I'll find out at the end of a book what I put in at the beginning. A sort of process of elimination and discovery in one.
When I was in college, I was the editor of the literary magazine and insisted neither the editors nor the writers be specifically identified-only our student numbers appeared on the title page. I love that idea and still do.
Why do people always gesture with their hands when they talk on the phone?
Women are always complaining about men's fascination with breasts. But what if men were absolutely indifferent to breasts? What would women do then with these things that serve one function once or twice in a lifetime, and the rest of the time are just in the way?
My memory loves you… it asks about you all the time.Collection: Memories
Sometimes it is the smallest thing that saves us: the weather growing cold, a child's smile, and a cup of excellent coffee.Collection: Children
The fact that I’m silent doesn’t mean I have nothing to say.Collection: Mean
The only two important things in life are real love and being at peace with yourself.Collection: Life
There are people we meet in life who miss being important to us by inches, days, or heartbeats. Another place or time or a different emotional frame of mind and we would willingly fall into their arms; gladly take up their challenge or invitation. But as it is, we encounter them when we are discontent or content and they are not. Whatever they are, we are not and vice versa. Two trains going in different directions that pass for a few powerful moments at full speed, blasting noise and wind but then they are gone. Whatever serious chemistry might have been possible if, isn’t.Collection: Powerful
Learn to wait; invariably either things will change or your heart will.Collection: Change
At the end of their relationship she asked if they could still remain friends. His face stayed expressionless until he said "No. Because we put friends in boxes. You see them once in a while, or even a lot, but still they have their box in your life, their specific place. Their *category.* That's one of the great things about being someone's love-- you have no box in their life because you're part of all their boxes. You're their friend, their lover, their confidante-- all those things. I don't want to be put in one of your boxes and I don't want to shrink you to fit into one of mine.Collection: Love You
Sometimes you have to give up on people. Not because you don't care, but because they don't.Collection: Fake People
How easily we ignore or forget the small kindnesses and considerations in life which are really the only everyday magic we witness on a regular basis. Just think- to make happiness out of nothing more than a few kind words or a generous gesture.Collection: Kindness
Dogs are minor angels, and I don't mean that facetiously. They love unconditionally , forgive immediately, are the truest of friends, willing to do anything that makes us happyCollection: Dog
Yo can always take back the lost parts of yourself if you can find and recognize them.Collection: Lost
I would have given him everything. I would have pulled down planets to make our life work.Collection: Given
Real love is always chaotic. You lose control; you lose perspective. You lose the ability to protect yourself. The greater the love, the greater the chaos. It’s a given and that’s the secret.Collection: Real
Its easy to lose sight of what you want when you think you want everything.Collection: Thinking
The problem with waiting for someone, whether that wait is an hour or a lifetime, is everyone's 'clock' is different. So what you might consider forever is only a little while to them, or vice versa.Collection: Waiting
The first great real intimacy between two people begins when secrets are told.Collection: Real