Bernard Malamud quotes

Bernard Malamud was an American novelist and short story writer, regarded as one of the leading figures in twentieth-century American literature. His work often explored themes of suffering, redemption, and the human condition, particularly within the Jewish immigrant experience. He became widely celebrated for novels such as "The Natural" and "The Fixer," earning major literary awards. Here are 26 of his quotes:

We have two lives, the life we learn with and the life we live with after that. Suffering is what brings us toward happiness.

Bernard Malamud

Without heroes, we're all plain people, and don't know how far we can go.

Bernard Malamud

Life is a tragedy full of joy.

Bernard Malamud

Revision is one of the exquisite pleasures of writing.

Bernard Malamud

Those who write about life, reflect about life. you see in others who you are.

Bernard Malamud

If you ever forget you're a Jew, a Gentile will remind you.

Bernard Malamud

Teach yourself to work in uncertainty.

Bernard Malamud

I don't think you can do anything for anyone without giving up something of your own.

Bernard Malamud

The wild begins where you least expect it, one step off your normal course.

Bernard Malamud

I work with language. I love the flowers of afterthought.

Bernard Malamud

The idea is to get the pencil moving quickly.

Bernard Malamud

A writer is a spectator, looking at everything with a highly critical eye.

Bernard Malamud

I fix what's broken - except in the heart.

Bernard Malamud

It was all those biographies in me yelling, "We want out. We want to tell you what we've done to you.”.

Bernard Malamud

I think I said "All men are Jews except they don't know it." I doubt I expected anyone to take the statement literally. But I think it's an understandable statement and a metaphoric way of indicating how history, sooner or later, treats all men.

Bernard Malamud

One can't make pure clay of time's mud. There is no life that can be recaptured wholly; as it was. Which is to say that all biography is ultimately fiction.

Bernard Malamud

If your train's on the wrong track every station you come to is the wrong station.

Bernard Malamud

There are no wrong books. What's wrong is the fear of them.

Bernard Malamud

When I don't feel hurt, I hope they bury me.

Bernard Malamud

I would write a book, or a short story, at least three times - once to understand it, the second time to improve the prose, and a third to compel it to say what it still must say.

Bernard Malamud

The purpose of a writer is to keep civilisation from destroying itself." (Interview,, September 14, 1958)

Bernard Malamud

Levin wanted friendship and got friendliness; he wanted steak and they offered spam.

Bernard Malamud