Professionalism in art has this difficulty: To be professional is to be dependable, to be dependable is to be predictable, and predictability is esthetically boring - an anti-virtue in a field where we hope to be astonished and startled and at some deep level refreshed. John Updike antiartastonish share on social
That a marriage ends is less than ideal; but all things end under heaven, and if temporality is held to be invalidating, then nothing real succeeds. John Updike endheavenhold Change image and share on social
In tennis, there is the forehand, the backhand, the overhead smash and the drop volley, all with a different grip. John Updike backhanddropforehand Change image and share on social
The theme of old age doesn't seem to fascinate Hollywood. John Updike agefascinatehollywood Change image and share on social
The substance of fictional architecture is not bricks and mortar but evanescent consciousness. John Updike architecturebrickconsciousness Change image and share on social
Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right or better. John Updike activitycarecreative Change image and share on social
The first author I met socially was Joyce Cary. John Updike authorcaryjoyce Change image and share on social
To be a human being is to be in a state of tension between your appetites and your dreams, and the social realities around you and your obligations to your fellow man. John Updike appetitedreamfellow Change image and share on social
A healthy male adult bore consumes each year one and a half times his own weight in other people's patience. John Updike adultbearconsume Change image and share on social
