Philip Roth

There were two types of strong men: those like Uncle Monty and Abe Steinheim, remorseless about their making money, and those like my father, ruthlessly obedient to their idea of fair play. ↗

— Philip Roth

#father #human-nature #men

... and I experienced the bitter helplessness of a taunted old man dying to be whole again. ↗

— Philip Roth

#old-age #wholeness #age

Literature isn't a moral beauty contest. Its power arises from the authority and audacity with which the impersonation is pulled off; the belief it inspires is what counts. ↗

— Philip Roth

#audacity #authority #beauty #belief #contest

People are unjust to anger - it can be enlivening and a lot of fun. ↗

— Philip Roth

#fun #lot #people #unjust

Sheer Playfulness and Deadly Seriousness are my closest friends. ↗

— Philip Roth

#closest friends #deadly #friends #seriousness #sheer

Should you protect profits? Yes. But run for the hills? No. ↗

— Philip Roth

#profits #protect #run #should #yes

Unless one is inordinately fond of subordination, one is always at war. ↗

— Philip Roth

#fond #inordinately #subordination #unless #war

When you publish a book, it's the world's book. The world edits it. ↗

— Philip Roth

#edits #publish #world #you

Nothing keeps its promise. ↗

— Philip Roth

#nothing #promise

History... is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake. ↗

— Philip Roth

#awake #history #i #i am #nightmare