What I do say is that I can write verse, and that the writing of verse in strict form is the best possible training for writing good prose. Philip Pullman formgoodprose Change image and share on social
And before I'd got to the end of the first paragraph, I'd come up slap bang against a fundamental problem that still troubles me today whenever I begin a story, and it's this: where am I telling it from? Philip Pullman bangbeginend share on social
Being in love was like China: you knew it was there, and no doubt it was very interesting, and some people went there, but I never would. I'd spend all my life without ever going to China, but it wouldn't matter, because there was all the rest of the world to visit. Philip Pullman chinadoubtinterest share on social
For that reason you can't write with music playing, and anyone who says he can is either writing badly, or not listening to the music, or lying. You need to hear what you're writing, and for that you need silence. Philip Pullman badlyhearlie share on social
True education flowers at the point when delight falls in love with responsibility. Philip Pullman delighteducationfall Change image and share on social
For a long time I thought I was a poet, but that's a high title to claim. Philip Pullman claimhighlong Change image and share on social
Men pass in front of our eyes like butterflies, creatures of a brief season. We love them; they are brave, proud, beautiful, clever; and they die almost at once. They die so soon that our hearts are continually racked with pain. Philip Pullman beautifulbravebutterfly share on social
One curious thing about growing up is that you don't only move forward in time; you move backwards as well, as pieces of your parents' and grandparents' lives come to you. Philip Pullman backwardscuriousforward Change image and share on social
I had passed through the entire British education system studying literature, culminating in three years of reading English at Oxford, and they'd never told me about something as basic as the importance of point of view in fiction! Philip Pullman basicbritishculminate share on social
Argue with anything else, but don't argue with your own nature. Philip Pullman arguenature Change image and share on social
