My students often say, 'My roommate read this story and really liked it,' and it's hard to convince them that there are things wrong with it. I say, 'Well, people who love you want you to be happy. But I'm your professor and I'm supposed to be teaching you something.' Joyce Carol Oates convincehappyhard share on social
A lot of widows feel that they have betrayed their spouse by continuing to live. It's deranged thinking. I know that, but that doesn't stop you feeling it. Joyce Carol Oates betraycontinuederange Change image and share on social
The historical Woodrow Wilson suffered from numerous complaints which we might today label as psychosomatic. Yet, Wilson did have a stroke as a relatively young man of 39 and seemed always to be ill. He was 'high-strung' - intensely neurotic - yet a charismatic personality nonetheless. Joyce Carol Oates charismaticcomplainthigh share on social
I am not conscious of working especially hard, or of 'working' at all. Writing and teaching have always been, for me, so richly rewarding that I don't think of them as work in the usual sense of the word. Joyce Carol Oates conscioushardreward share on social
Except that awards are competitive, which is a negative thing, they are wonderful for singling out deserving individuals and bringing their work to the attention of many potential readers who might otherwise have been totally unaware of them. Joyce Carol Oates attentionawardbring share on social
Where we come from in America no longer signifies. It's where we go, and what we do when we get there, that tells us who we are. Joyce Carol Oates americalongsignify Change image and share on social
Princeton is quite integrated. Women are professors at Princeton. Women are students at Princeton. That began in the 1970s. Joyce Carol Oates 1970sbeginintegrate Change image and share on social
The most common misperception about me is that I write fast. I just write often. Every hour that I can. Joyce Carol Oates commonfasthour Change image and share on social
Like most people, I can be very easily hurt. Joyce Carol Oates easilyhurtpeople Change image and share on social
If I'm writing, I'll say something metaphorical or approximate, whereas scientists are very precise. Joyce Carol Oates approximatemetaphoricalprecise Change image and share on social