Top 135 Quotes by Joyce Carol Oates

To be true to life, a novel must have an ending that is inevitable given the specific personalities of the characters involved. The novelist must not impose an ending upon them.

As a farm girl, even when I was quite young, I had my 'farm chores' - but I had time also to be alone, to explore the fields, woods and creek side. And to read.

The cleaning is something I use as a reward if I get some work done. I go into a very happy state of mind when I'm vacuuming.

I would suggest the widow do things the husband used to do, so he seems to be there with you. You will feel like just going to bed. It's so wonderful, going to bed.

After my parents passed away - in 2000 and 2003 - I felt I could take the time to think about the past and imagine what it would have been like to be my grandmother.

Detroit, my 'great' subject, made me the person I am, consequently the writer I am - for better or worse.

A good, sympathetic review is always a wonderful surprise.

If food is poetry, is not poetry also food?

To be knocked out doesn't mean what it seems. A boxer does not have to get up.

You need so much energy and encouragement to write that if someone says something negative, some of that energy goes.