Bernard Malamud (26th April, 1914 – 18th March, 1986 was an American novelist and short story writer, born in New York to Russian Jewish immigrants. Along with other notable authors such as Saul Bellow, Joseph Heller, and Philip Roth, he is one of the best known American Jewish authors of the twentieth century.
During his writing career, Malamud saw much success. His baseball themed novel, The Natural was adapted into a 1984 movie starring Robert Redford. His 1966 novel, The Fixer (also adapted), about anti-Semitism in the Russian Empire won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
Today we’re featuring some of Bernard Malamud’s best known words as we put together a collection of our favourite quotes.
“There are no wrong books. What’s wrong is the fear of them.” ~ The Fixer
“The wild begins where you least expect it, one step off your normal course.”
“His worst fault is he thinks his brains entitle him to certain privileges.” ~ The Assistant
“Would you say you have a “philosophy” Of your own? If so what is it?’ ‘If I have it’s all skin and bones…If I have any philosophy…it’s that life could be better than it is.” ~ The Fixer
“Where a boy runs he never forgets.” ~ The Assistant
“We have two lives… the life we learn with and the life we live after that. Suffering is what brings us towards happiness.” ~ The Natural
“Where to look if you’ve lost your mind?” ~ The Fixer
“A writer is a spectator, looking at everything with a highly critical eye.”
“Of course it would cost something, but he was an expert in cutting corners; and when there were no more corners left he would make circles rounder.” ~ The Magic Barrel
“I fix what’s broken – except in the heart.” ~ The Fixer
Image credit Joe Ciardiello
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