In the twentieth century one of the most personal relationships to have developed is that of the person and the state. It's become a fact of life that governments have become very intimate with people, most always to their detriment. E. L. Doctorow centurydetrimentdevelop share on social
From my undergraduate days, I've always been interested in the major philosophical questions that don't seem to have an answer that everyone agrees on. E. L. Doctorow agreeanswerday Change image and share on social
I began to ask two questions while I was reading a book that excited me: not only what was going to happen next, but how is this done? How is it that these words on the page make me feel the way I'm feeling? This is the line of inquiry that I think happens in a child's mind, without him even knowing he has aspirations as a writer. E. L. Doctorow aspirationbeginbook share on social
I thought I would lose, so I didn't prepare a speech. E. L. Doctorow losepreparespeech Change image and share on social
Things that appear on the front page of the newspaper as 'fact' are far more dangerous than the games played by a novelist, and can lead to wars. E. L. Doctorow dangerousfactfront Change image and share on social
I like commas. I detest semi-colons - I don't think they belong in a story. And I gave up quotation marks long ago. I found I didn't need them, they were fly-specks on the page. E. L. Doctorow agobelongcolon Change image and share on social
The nature of good fiction is that it dwells in ambiguity. E. L. Doctorow ambiguitydwellfiction Change image and share on social
It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. E. L. Doctorow cardriveheadlight Change image and share on social
Congress is so beholden to the money that any solution in the general interest will be frustrated and subverted by the corporate interests who feel they will be damaged by progress, fair play and justice. E. L. Doctorow beholdencongresscorporate share on social
Obama is a great man who's just beginning to understand the realities. And I'm not just saying that because he reads my books. I would have voted for him anyway. E. L. Doctorow beginbookgreat Change image and share on social