Quotes from Jonathan Carroll

Part of life is a quest to find that one essential person who will understand our story. But we choose wrongly so often. Over the ensuing years that person we thought understood us best ends up regarding us with pity, indifference, or active dislike. Those who truly care can be divided into two categories: those who understand us, and those who forgive our worst sins. Rarely do we find someone capable of both.

You know people don't get better as we get older- we just get more of who we are.

I have never heard anyone say This is it. I know right now is the high point of my life. It will never get any better. Only in retrospect do we recognize the best times and of course then it is too late.

Real love is always chaotic. You lose control; you lose perspective. You lose the ability to protect yourself. The greater the love, the greater the chaos. It's a given and that's the secret.

When I was in college, I was the editor of the literary magazine and insisted neither the editors nor the writers be specifically identified-only our student numbers appeared on the title page. I love that idea and still do.

It took me less than half a lifetime to realize that regret is one of the few guaranteed certainties. Sooner or later everything is touched by it, despite our naive and senseless hope that just this time we will be spared its cold hand on our heart.

At a Boston signing, someone from the audience asked why I was so obsessed with furniture in my books. The question rattled around in my head. I had no idea that I was obsessed with furniture.

I write about what interests me. It's very dangerous when you try to satisfy an audience.

One of the saddest realities is that we never know when our lives are at their peak. Only after it is over and we have some kind of perspective do we realize how good we had it a day, a month, five years ago.

Most men, no matter how well or badly dressed, carry overstuffed, beat up wallets that should have been replaced years ago. Why is that? Every time I see a guy take out a wallet anywhere, it looks like a piece of old melted chocolate cake-with strings.

Krakow is one of my favorite places on earth. It is a medieval city full of young people. A wonderful, striking combination.

There's almost always a point in a book where something happens that triggers the rest of the plot.

Only the guilty and the lovers really fear. The first because of what they are, the second for what they might lose.

Writing a short story is like having a short intense affair, whereas writing a novel is like a long rich marriage.

I read less of everything now. With only fond memories of others' work, it will be interesting to give my own journal writing a try now.

I find you write with one person in mind. Usually for me that one person is my wife, because she's my most severe critic and understands best what I'm trying to do.

Most men think they are good drivers. Most women think they are good in bed. They aren't.

May this house stand until an ant drinks the ocean and a tortoise circles the world.

Old people are often impatient, but for what?

For an adult, eating alone at McDonald's is admitting a kind of defeat.

It's always fun to walk down the street with or behind a really beautiful woman, for no reason other than to see how the world reacts to them.

Salzburg... is a mountain town with a rushing river running right through the center, everything in the rain various shades of green and brown.

In Poland, my audience is all women between 18 and 30. At U.S. conventions, you have the fantasy and science fiction crowd. At Harvard you have an entirely different audience. It's so schizophrenic.

Ive never seen myself as a fantasy writer-ever.