Logo - Feel The Words

Book Quotes

Why books work the way they do.

This page highlights what books can do that film can't, including slower pacing and quiet stretches, alongside a reminder that some things simply translate poorly to screen. For a companion collection, see Books.

The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business.

John Steinbeck

When I first concluded to print the book, I made an honest effort to construct it in the third person.

Quotes by John Sergeant Wise

Almost any poll of regular churchgoers will reveal that their favorite book in the New Testament is the Gospel of John. It is the book that is most often used at Christian funerals.

Quotes by John Shelby Spong

There is no way that the Fourth Gospel was written by John Zebedee or by any of the disciples of Jesus. The author of this book is not a single individual, but is at least three different writers/editors, who did...

Quotes by John Shelby Spong

It took me eight books to finally be at a point in my career where I could come out with a book and say, 'This is meant to be a funny book,' and we didn't have to make any bones...

Quotes by John Scalzi

The more I want a book to be done, the faster I type because I just want to get it out.

Quotes by John Scalzi

A book worth reading is worth buying.

Quotes by John Ruskin

I've never been much of a European traveler. London once on a book tour, and Italy because that's where Ferraris are from. That's about it.

Quotes by John Ridley

At the age of 12, I developed an intense interest in mathematics. On exposure to algebra, I was fascinated by simultaneous equations and read ahead of the class to the end of the book.

Quotes by John Pople

Why do I do this every Sunday? Even the book reviews seem to be the same as last week's. Different books same reviews.

Quotes by John Osborne

I once read Updike after writing a first draft, and I wanted to put my own book on the fire. I've since learned to read utter crap while I'm writing: pulp is the thing.

Quotes by John Niven

The first book I bought with my own money as a teenager was Martin Amis's 'Money.' You know that thing when you read a book and you think, 'I'm going to have to read every word ever written by this...

Quotes by John Niven

A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit.

John Milton

Who kills a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image, but thee who destroys a good book, kills reason its self.

John Milton

I think the players, I put in the book for example that we should go back to wood rackets, probably they laughed at me, I'm a dinosaur, but I think that you see these great players, have even more variety...

Quotes by John McEnroe

There's something deeply satisfying when it succeeds, but I'm not going to do another book just to put my name on something and make some money if it's not something I deeply care about.

Quotes by John McEnroe

I read all the time. I was reading a book I admire very much by Alice McDermot called Charming Billy.

Quotes by John McGahern

The rosary was said every evening. I always liked that sentence about the medieval Churches, that they were the Bibles of the poor. The Church was my first book and I would think it is still my most important book.

Quotes by John McGahern

Asking a critic to name his favorite book is like asking a butcher to name his favorite pig.

Quotes by John McCarthy

A true intellectual is a man who, after reading a book and being convinced by its arguments, will shoot someone or, more likely, order someone shot.

Quotes by John McCarthy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a quote about pacing in books versus other media?
Yes. One quote observes: "In a book, you can kind of take time and have lulls in places." It highlights something books can do that faster-paced formats often can't.
Is there a quote about the difference between books and movies?
Yes - one quote notes that things that might work in a book just do not work in the visual medium of movies. It's a useful reminder that not every story translates directly from page to screen. For more on the reading side of storytelling, browse Books quotes.
Is there a quote about why books offer escapism?
Yes. One quote calls a great book "escapism" and says the artistry and the creativity in a story are better than any drugs. It's a strong statement about the emotional pull of good writing. For more on the community side of reading, see Book Club quotes.
Is there a quote about literature guiding how kids grow up?
Yes - one quote reflects that what sort of person you grow into shouldn't happen by default, which is often exactly what happens to kids, and describes seeing literature as a method of guidance, information, and contemplation. It's a thoughtful take on the role books can play in shaping character. For more on where to find these books, check out Bookstore quotes.
What different things do these "book" quotes celebrate?
The slower pacing only a book allows, the limits of adapting books into movies, books as a form of escapism, and literature's role in shaping how people grow up. If you're touring or exploring more book-related content, Book Tour quotes round things out.

One entry treats a great book as pure escapism, while another argues literature plays a real role in guiding how young people grow up. Explore further with Book Club or Bookstore.