Stella Adler, on art:

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.

- Stella Adler.

Winston Graham, on writing:

 

All I knew was that I was writing something out of my very guts,

and that I was content.
- Winston Graham.

Barbara Kingsolver, on writing:

 

Close the door.

Write with no one looking over your shoulder.
Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you;
figure out what you have to say.
It's the one and only thing you have to offer.
 
- Barbara Kingsolver.

Albert Einstein, on imagination:

 

Logic will get you from A to B.

Imagination will take you everywhere.
- Albert Einstein.

Charlotte Bronte, on writing:

I'm just going to write because I cannot help it.

- Charlotte Bronte. 

George V. Higgins, on writing:

 You cannot write well without data.

- George V. Higgins.

Ann Patchett, on writing:

Writing is a job, a talent, but it's also the place to go in your head.
It is the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.
- Ann Patchett.

Stephen King, on writing:

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others; read a lot and write a lot.

There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.

- Stephen King. 

Anne Tyler, on writing:

It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them.

- Anne Tyler.

Carl Sagan, on imagination:

 

Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were.
But without it, we go nowhere.
- Carl Sagan.

Bonnie Friedman, on writing:

 

Writing teaches writing.
Your writing will teach you how to write if you work hard enough and have enough faith.
- Bonnie Friedman.

John Steinbeck, on inspiration and writing:

 

Ideas are like rabbits.

You get a couple and learn how to handle them,
and pretty soon you have a dozen.
- John Steinbeck.

Charlotte Bronte, on writing:

 

You can write nothing of value unless you give yourself wholly to the theme -- and when you so give yourself -- you lose appetite and sleep -- it cannot be helped --
― Charlotte Brontë.

Jhumpa Lahiri, on books:

That's the thing about books.
They let you travel without moving your feet.
– Jhumpa Lahiri. 

   

Confucius, on reading:

No matter how busy you may think you are,

you must find time for reading,

or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.

- Confucius. 

Sappho, on words:

 

Although only breath,

words which I command are immortal.
- Sappho.

John Gardner, on writing:

Writing a novel is like heading out over the open sea in a small boat.

It helps, if you have a plan and a course laid out.

- John Gardner. 

Mabel Seeley, on writing:

 

The only time I'm pleased with myself is when I'm exhausted and shaking from having written too much.
– Mabel Seeley.

Mark Twain, on reading:

 

The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them.
- Mark Twain.

Ursula K. Le Guin, on writing:

 

When people say, Did you always want to be a writer?
I have to say no! I always WAS a writer.
- Ursula K. Le Guin.