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
It's difficult to tell the truth about how a book begins. The truth, as far as it can be presented to other people, is either wholly banal or too intimate. Zadie Smith banalbeginbook Change image and share on social
Any artist who aligns themselves with a politician is making a category error because what politicians do is not on a human scale, it is on a geopolitical scale. Zadie Smith alignartistcategory Change image and share on social
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
In my situation, every time I write a sentence, I'm thinking not only of the people I ended up in college with but my siblings, my family, my school friends, the people from my neighborhood. I've come to realize that this is an advantage, really: it keeps you on your toes. Zadie Smith advantagecollegeend share on social
As far as I'm concerned, if you want to find out about the last day of WWII or the roots of the Indian Mutiny, get thee to a books catalogue. Zadie Smith bookcatalogueconcern Change image and share on social
Some people like just sitting down and being taken for a ride. That's a beautiful thing that fiction can do. But it's not the only thing. In television and film, people are ready to accept any kind of jump cut, but the slightest disturbance on the page ruffles their feathers. Zadie Smith acceptbeautifulcut share on social
When I was 21, I wanted to write like Kafka. But, unfortunately for me, I wrote like a script editor for 'The Simpsons' who'd briefly joined a religious cult and then discovered Foucault. Such is life. Zadie Smith brieflycultdiscover share on social
People with children will know this: when the childcare is over, it's over on the dot. You immediately have to go into child mode; there's no down time. Zadie Smith childchildcaredot Change image and share on social
You can't state difference and also state equality. We have to state sameness to understand equality. Zadie Smith differenceequalitysameness Change image and share on social
