James A. Michener

I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody else does is of no concern whatever except as an interesting variation.

Whenever I start a book, I swear it's going to be a short one. But then it's, 'Who was his grandfather? And how did he get there in the first place? And what kind of animals is he chasing?'

Honest to God, I do all the research on these books myself.

Whatever I did, there was always someone around who was better qualified. They just didn't bother to do it.

For this is the journey that men and women make, to find themselves. If they fail in this, it doesn't matter much else what they find.

I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.

I can't remember how old I was, maybe 13, 14, and to see these fellows and hear their stories and to see life come to such a drab ending - my God, a poorhouse in those days was something. You would have to be inert not to respond to it.

Very early on in life, I decided the hell with it: material things weren't for me. Christmas would come, and other kids would have all these presents, and it wouldn't bother me a bit.

If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.

Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them.

The permanent temptation of life is to confuse dreams with reality. The permanent defeat of life comes when dreams are surrendered to reality.

It takes courage to know when you ought to be afraid.