Gene Wolfe quotes

Gene Wolfe was an American science fiction and fantasy writer, acclaimed for his intricate prose and complex storytelling. His most famous work is "The Book of the New Sun," a highly influential series in speculative fiction. He is celebrated for his literary depth and profound influence on the genre. Here are 116 of his quotes:

There's a certain kind of lonely man who rejects love, because he believes that anyone who offers it wouldn't be a lover worth having. (Gene Wolfe)
You seem to think that the only genuine existence evil can have is conscious existence - that no one is evil unless he admits it to himself. I disagree. View quote
Gene Wolfe
Some are haunted by ghosts. I am haunted by stories. View quote
Gene Wolfe
People don't want other people to be people. View quote
Gene Wolfe
Weak people believe what is forced on them. Strong people what they wish to believe, forcing that to be real. View quote
Gene Wolfe
All novels are fantasies. Some are more honest about it. View quote
Gene Wolfe
We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges. View quote
Gene Wolfe
When a gift is deserved, it is not a gift but a payment. View quote
Gene Wolfe
My definition of good literature is that which can be read by an educated reader, and reread with increased pleasure. View quote
Gene Wolfe
There is no magic. There is only knowledge, more or less hidden. View quote
Gene Wolfe
A hundred wise men have said in various ways that love transcends the power of death, and millions of fools have supposed that they meant nothing by it. At this late hour in my life I have learned what they meant. They meant that love transcends death. They are correct. (Gene Wolfe)
A child, not knowing what is extraordinary and what is commonplace, usually lights midway between the two, finds interest in incidents adults consider beneath notice, and calmly accepts the most improbable occurrences. View quote
Gene Wolfe
That we are capable only of being what we are remains our unforgivable sin. View quote
Gene Wolfe
Paradoxes explain everything. Since they do, they cannot be explained. View quote
Gene Wolfe
People who wish to be lost always get their way. View quote
Gene Wolfe
You never learn how to write a novel. You just learn how to write the novel that you're writing. View quote
Gene Wolfe
Be careful about extending credit, too, and doubly careful about refusing to extend it. View quote
Gene Wolfe
Almost any interesting work of art comes close to saying the opposite of what it really says. View quote
Gene Wolfe
Evolution teaches us the original purpose of language was to ritualize men's threats and curses, his spells to compel the gods; communication came later. View quote
Gene Wolfe
Experience is a wonderful teacher, but one whose lessons come too late. View quote
Gene Wolfe
The slight criticism of evolution I offer should not be taken as evidence that I do not believe in evolution; I do. Let's not blame God for everything. I also believe in Lamarckism, as it was put forward by Lamarck. (The Lamarckism presented in standard textbooks is actually Lysenkoism, a straw man set up by the opponents of Lamarckism, palpably false and easily disproved.) There is no paradox in that: Lamarckism and Darwinism are not mutually exclusive, except politically. (Gene Wolfe)
Nobody bothers crazy people. [...] In the end, maybe it's the crazy people who win after all. View quote
Gene Wolfe
If you rob someone who would help you if you needed help you only rob yourself. [...] Do you imagine you can be cruel without teaching others to be cruel to you? View quote
Gene Wolfe
We're going to fight to the end. But it's better if you fight to somebody else's end. View quote
Gene Wolfe
You have a walking stick. Suppose it could walk by itself, and that it chose to walk away from you. [...] It would no longer be a walking stick at all, only a stick that walked. View quote
Gene Wolfe