The voices / 35 fragments

James A. Michener

Dates not recorded

Name supplied in the contributor-provided quotation collection. Basic attribution label; identity, lifetime and quotation authenticity have not been independently verified.

Author and source reference ↗

▷ Play this voice Search within this voice ↗Place in time ↗faith love life knowledge nature time happiness wealth

Archive entries

01Undated

Because I am for them, Commander, because their ancestors stood up to that Nazi, Bligh, just like I would be for one little Jew, terrified and hungry, crossing the Pyrenees to get away to freedom from the Gestapo. One little Jew. You wouldn't have him in your house. He stinks, he has lice. But, you know what, Commander? I am for him, every time.” And he would punch me in the shoulder and lug his M-1 up onto the ridge, night after night.

James A. Michener / quote

02Undated

a soldier lives always for the next battle, because he knows that before it arrives impossible changes can occur in his favor.

James A. Michener / quote

03Undated

I decided (after listening to a "talk radio" commentator who abused, vilified, and scorned every noble cause to which I had devoted my entire life) that I was both a humanist and a liberal, each of the most dangerous and vilified type. I am a humanist because I think humanity can, with constant moral guidance, create a reasonably decent society. I am terrified of restrictive religious doctrine, having learned from history that when men who adhere to any form of it are in control, common men like me are in peril. I do not believe that pure reason can solve the perpetual problems unless it is modified by poetry and art and social vision. So I am a humanist. And if you want to charge me with being the most virulent kind—a secular humanist—I accept the accusation. [Interview, Parade magazine, 24 November 1991]

James A. Michener / quote

04Undated

All I can do is play the game the way the cards fall.

James A. Michener / quote

05Undated

You have to be eligible for luck to strike and I think that's a matter of education and preparation and character and all the other solid attributes that sometimes people laugh at.

James A. Michener / quote

06Undated

It takes courage to know when you ought to be afraid.

James A. Michener / quote

07Undated

The permanent temptation of life is to confuse dreams with reality. The permanent defeat of life comes when dreams are surrendered to reality.

James A. Michener / quote

08Undated

Very early on in life, I decided the hell with it: material things weren't for me. Christmas would come, and other kids would have all these presents, and it wouldn't bother me a bit.

James A. Michener / quote

09Undated

An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.

James A. Michener / quote

10Undated

Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them.

James A. Michener / quote

11Undated

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.

James A. Michener / quote