Quotes from Oracle Night

Paul Auster ·  245 pages

Rating: (11.7K votes)


“It always stimulates me to discover new examples of my own prejudice and stupidity, to realize that I don't know half as much as I think I do.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night


“Bodies count, of course - they count more than we're willing to admit - but we don't fall in love with bodies, we fall in love with each other. We all know that, but the moment we go beyond a catalogue of surface qualities and appearances, words begin to fail us, to crumble apart in mystical confusions and cloudy, unsubstantial metaphors.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night


“Thoughts are real', he said. 'Words are real. Everything human is real, and sometimes we know things before they happen, even if we aren't aware of it. We live in the present, but the future is inside us at every moment. Maybe that's what writing is all about, Sid. Not recording events from the past, but making things happen in the future'.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night


“As long as you are dreaming, there is always a way out”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night


“Bildiğim bir şey varsa oda karşılığını vermeden bir şey alamayacağınızdır, istediğiniz şey ne kadar büyükse karşılığında ödemeniz gereken bedel de o kadar büyük olur.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night



“Bluntly and quietly, in a series of simple, forthright sentences, she dismantled the architecture of unhappiness that had been growing up around us for the past several days. She was calling from the office she said, and had to talk in a low voice, 'but if you can hear me, Sid' she began, 'there are four things I want you to know. First, I haven't stopped thinking about you since I left the house this morning. Second, I've decided to have the baby, and we're never going to use the word "abortion" again. Third, don't bother to make dinner. [...] Fourth, make sure Mr. Johnson's ready for action. I'm going to attack you the minute I walk in the door, my love, so be prepared.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night


“Quand on me demande pourquoi je fume, je réponds que c'est parce que j'aime tousser.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night


“As long as you're dreaming, there's always a way out.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night


“Eds atbildot kaut ko noņurd un piedāvā Bovenam apsēsties, negaidīti pieminēdams fragmentu no "Voldenas", kad ar žestu norāda uz vienīgo krēslu istabā. Toro teica, ka viņa mājā esot trīs krēsli, Eds ieminas. Viens vientulībai, otrs draudzībai un trešais sabiedrībai. Man ir tikai viens krēsls vientulībai. Ja vēl piemer klāt gultu, varbūt sanāk divi draudzībai.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night


“—Los pensamientos son reales —sentenció—. las palabras son reales. Todo lo humano es real, y aveces conocemos las cosas antes de que ocurran, aun cuando no seamos consientes de ello. Vivimos en el presente, pero el futuro está siempre en nosotros. Puede que el escribir se reduzca a eso, Sid. No a consignar los hechos del pasado, sino a hacer que ocurran cosas en el futuro.”
― Paul Auster, quote from Oracle Night



About the author

Paul Auster
Born place: in Newark, New Jersey, The United States
Born date February 3, 1947
See more on GoodReads

Popular quotes

“to move. More gunfire. Although his vision was dimmed, Alex saw two more grenades arc through the air. They landed next to one of the ships and exploded, a huge fireball of flame. Two of Sarov’s men were lifted into the air. At the same time, two or even three machine guns began to chatter simultaneously. There were screams. More flames. Conrad loomed over him. He seemed to have forgotten what was happening in the shipyard. Or perhaps he didn’t care. He tossed aside the metal rod, then slowly pulled up his sleeves. Finally he dropped down so that he was sitting on Alex’s chest, one knee on either side. His hands closed around Alex’s neck. Gently, enjoying what he was doing, he began to squeeze. Alex felt fingers as hard as iron clamp shut on his throat. He couldn’t breathe. There were already black spots in front of his eyes. Straining past Conrad, he saw something moving toward him. It was the magnetic disc. Conrad had left the controls on in the cabin in his haste to get over to Alex, and the arm of the crane was still swinging around. There was a sudden, loud clang. The”
― Anthony Horowitz, quote from Skeleton Key


“You cannot go back and make a new start, but you can start now and make a new ending. [p. 115]”
― Michelle Cohen Corasanti, quote from The Almond Tree


“Tomorrow… don’t remind me I said this. I won’t want to talk about it, but tonight… keep me safe.”
― Nyrae Dawn, quote from Charade


“Here’s something about Mom: she’s bad with annoyances, but great in a crisis. If a waiter doesn’t refill her water after she’s asked three times, or she forgets her dark glasses when the sun comes out, look out! But when it comes to something truly bad happening, Mom plugs into this supreme calm.”
― Maria Semple, quote from Where'd You Go, Bernadette


“THUS I gave up myself to a readiness of being ruined without the least concern, and am a fair Memento to all young Women, whose Vanity prevails over their Virtue: Nothing was ever so stupid on both Sides, had I acted as became me, and resisted as Virtue and Honour requir'd; this Gentleman, had either Desisted his Attacks, find|ing no room to expect the Accomplishment of his Design, or had made fair, and honourable Proposals of Marriage; in which Case, whoever had blam'd him, no Body could have blam'd me.

In short, if he had known me, and how easy the Trifle he aim'd at, was to be had, he would have troubled his Head no farther, but have given me four or five Guineas, and have lain with me the next time he had come at me; and if I had known his Thoughts, and how hard he thought I would be to be gain'd, I might have made my own Terms with him; and if I had not Capitulated for an imme|diate Marriage, I might for a Maintenance till Marriage, and might have had what I would.”
― Daniel Defoe, quote from Moll Flanders


Interesting books

The Invasion of the Tearling
(34.9K)
The Invasion of the...
by Erika Johansen
Becoming A Vincent
(4.2K)
The Writing Life
(10.7K)
The Writing Life
by Annie Dillard
Flaubert in Egypt: A Sensibility on Tour
(338)
Flaubert in Egypt: A...
by Gustave Flaubert
Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream
(4.2K)
Bait and Switch: The...
by Barbara Ehrenreich
The Sweet Hereafter
(7.5K)
The Sweet Hereafter
by Russell Banks

About BookQuoters

BookQuoters is a community of passionate readers who enjoy sharing the most meaningful, memorable and interesting quotes from great books. As the world communicates more and more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become more relevant and important. For some of us a quote becomes a mantra, a goal or a philosophy by which we live. For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book and to carry with us the author’s best ideas.

We thoughtfully gather quotes from our favorite books, both classic and current, and choose the ones that are most thought-provoking. Each quote represents a book that is interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the reader’s life. We also accept submissions from our visitors and will select the quotes we feel are most appealing to the BookQuoters community.

Founded in 2023, BookQuoters has quickly become a large and vibrant community of people who share an affinity for books. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous world; conversely, gleaning the main ideas of a book via a quote or a quick summary is typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. We feel that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but offer you some of the highlights. We hope you’ll join us.