Quote

Personally, I've never had it as a goal in life to be happy. Seems impossible to achieve. Even the Declaration of Independence seems to acknowledge this. They talk about the pursuit of happiness, not happiness itself.

Jonathan Ames

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Jonathan Ames
Age: 60
Born: 1964
Born: March 23
Author
Essayist
Novelist
Screenwriter
Writer
New York City
New York
Seems
Independence
Even
Pursuit
Never
Achieve
Life
Impossible
Talk
Goal
Declaration
Happiness
Personally
Happy
Acknowledge

More quotes by Jonathan Ames

Image
It was one of those days when every time I went to go out the door, something grabbed me in the back of the brain and said, lie down and masturbate one more time.
Jonathan Ames
Image
My sophomore English teacher encouraged me to write for the school paper, and that's what got me started. Suddenly it struck me that being a writer could be a romantic and adventurous position. Previously, I had thought I would be a tennis pro, giving lessons at a local club. I thought that would be a good life, and it might have been.
Jonathan Ames
Image
I'm on the verge of a total breakdown. Sciatica. Taxes. Cars. Fleas, possibly. It's an absurd existence.
Jonathan Ames
Image
For me, books have always been a way to feel less alone while being alone. Perhaps if I was depressed and isolated, just communicating with these authors through their sentences helped me.
Jonathan Ames
Image
It seems like the original 'Star Trek' could have gone on longer.
Jonathan Ames
Image
I certainly want to portray the importance of friendship. I had noticed in movies and TV shows that friends often treated one another terribly, and my friends, the few I have, are never cruel to me or unkind, so I wanted to convey that.
Jonathan Ames
Image
I hid my underwear beneath a parked Peugeot.
Jonathan Ames
Image
I don't really recognise success. I don't see myself as on an upwardly mobile trajectory. I see myself as on the edge of a cliff about to fall off.
Jonathan Ames
Image
I've always been inspired by Don Quixote as a role model of sorts, of the power of books to sort of make you insane in maybe a beautiful way.
Jonathan Ames
Image
I live for coincidences. They briefly give to me the illusion or the hope that there's a pattern to my life, and if there's a pattern, then maybe I'm moving toward some kind of destiny where it's all explained.
Jonathan Ames
Image
A lot of writing is a form of seeing - putting down what you see in terms of action and landscape.
Jonathan Ames
Image
Having a show get canceled is like, 'Oh, you have caviar between your teeth,' you know what I mean? Because you had a show in the first place.
Jonathan Ames
Image
Oh, God, I don't know what's more difficult, life or the English language.
Jonathan Ames
Image
There are so many talented young writers named Jonathan, with whom by comparison I suffer terribly.
Jonathan Ames
Image
I've always been intrigued by Stockholm Syndrome. Reminds me of my childhood.
Jonathan Ames
Image
Whether I'm writing scripts or prose, the goal is identical. To give pleasure. Now whether I succeed or not is up for debate, and, mostly, I fail. But I try. I like to make things. It's a way to stay busy during one's ephemeral and confusing life.
Jonathan Ames
Image
There's no shortage of material in life.
Jonathan Ames
Image
The reason it's hard for me to tweet is I don't want to pronounce anything, and Twitter is for pronouncing.
Jonathan Ames
Image
I don't laugh that much, but I do like humorous books, and I like to entertain readers that way.
Jonathan Ames
Image
As a child, I wanted to be an athlete, a professional tennis player or something like that.
Jonathan Ames