I have an ambition to write a great book, but that's really a competition with myself. I've noticed that a lot of young writers, people in all media, want to be famous but they don't really want to do anything. I can't think of anything less worth striving for than fame. Zadie Smith ambitionbookcompetition share on social
English fiction was something I loved growing up, and it changed my life - it changed the trajectory of my life. Zadie Smith changeenglishfiction Change image and share on social
I want to write without shame or pride or over-compensation in one direction or another. To write freely. Zadie Smith compensationdirectionfreely Change image and share on social
One thing you can't intend is how you will be read. I hear it said a lot that my books are about the 'search for identity', and this is said admiringly, as if I meant to encourage such a search. Zadie Smith admiringlybookencourage Change image and share on social
We cannot be all the writers all the time. We can only be who we are. Zadie Smith timewriter Change image and share on social
The library was the place I went to find out what there was to know. It was absolutely essential. Zadie Smith absolutelyessentialfind Change image and share on social
Like all readers, I want my limits to be drawn by my own sensibilities, not by my melanin count. Zadie Smith countdrawlimit Change image and share on social
I think I know a thing or two about the way people love, but I don't know anything about hatred, psychosis, cruelty. Or maybe I don't have the guts to admit that I do. Zadie Smith admitcrueltygut Change image and share on social
People profess to have certain political positions, but their conservatism or liberalism is really the least interesting thing about them. Zadie Smith conservatisminterestliberalism Change image and share on social
Without the balancing context of everyday life, all you have is the news, and news by its nature is generally bad. Zadie Smith badbalancecontext Change image and share on social
