Top 126 Quotes by Paul Theroux

About Paul Theroux

These are some quotes by American author Paul Theroux Novelist, who was born on April 10, 1941.

I have written stories, essays, even whole books on trains, scribble-scribble.

I have written stories, essays, even whole books on trains, scribble-scribble.

Paul Theroux

The people I've known who've done great things of that type - you know, building hospitals, running schools - are very humble people. They give their lives to the project.

The people I've known who've done great things of that type - you know, building hospitals, running schools - are very humble people. They give their lives to the project.

Paul Theroux

My father had an invisible job outside of the house; I didn't know what he did. But my kids were privy to the ups and downs of a writer's life.

My father had an invisible job outside of the house; I didn't know what he did. But my kids were privy to the ups and downs of a writer's life.

Paul Theroux

People write about getting sick, they write about tummy trouble, they write about having to wait for a bus. They write about waiting. They write three pages about how long it took them to get a visa. I'm not interested in the boring parts. Everyone has tummy trouble. Everyone waits in line. I don't want to hear about it.

Paul Theroux

The Japanese have perfected good manners and made them indistinguishable from rudeness.

The Japanese have perfected good manners and made them indistinguishable from rudeness.

Paul Theroux

I think people read travel books either because they intend to take that trip, or because they would never take that trip. In a sense, as a writer you are doing the travel for the reader.

I think people read travel books either because they intend to take that trip, or because they would never take that trip. In a sense, as a writer you are doing the travel for the reader.

Paul Theroux

To me, writing is a considered act. It's something which is a great labor of thought and consideration.

To me, writing is a considered act. It's something which is a great labor of thought and consideration.

Paul Theroux

I wanted the Peace Corps to be something very vague and unorganized, and to a large extent it was. It did not run smoothly. The consequence was that we were left alone.

I wanted the Peace Corps to be something very vague and unorganized, and to a large extent it was. It did not run smoothly. The consequence was that we were left alone.

Paul Theroux

I think there is only one way to write fiction - alone, in a room, without interruption or any distraction.

I think there is only one way to write fiction - alone, in a room, without interruption or any distraction.

Paul Theroux

Mark Twain was a great traveler and he wrote three or four great travel books. I wouldn't say that I'm a travel novelist but rather a novelist who travels - and who uses travel as a background for finding stories of places.

Paul Theroux

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