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The basic truth of all things, as nearly as we may ever dream of determining and knowing this truth, is form, that which is, as it is. The way and shape of the thing no less than the thing itself.

William Saroyan

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William Saroyan
Age: 72 †
Born: 1908
Born: August 31
Died: 1981
Died: May 18
Dramatist
Novelist
Playwright
Poet
Screenwriter
Songwriter
Writer
Fresno
California
May
Shape
Ever
Basic
Thing
Shapes
Way
Knowing
Things
Less
Dream
Form
Determining
Truth
Nearly

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Writers are a fascinating breed, because there are so many kinds of them, they are made by so many circumstances, conditions, and mysteries, and there are so many ways for writing to be done.
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No city invites the heart to come to life as San Francisco does. Arrival in San Francisco is an experience in living.
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In the time of your life, live—so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.
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In the time of your life, live-so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches.
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I have an idea that most of all he is running away from love, because it's too big and too demanding. He's running away from us--from you, from me, from his sister, from himself, too. Who wants to be himself, who wants to be so little, and so captured and limited?
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Lionel whispered because he was under the impression that it was out of respect for books, not consideration for readers.
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I believe in anything that works.
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Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are in English, the surroundings I write about are American, but the soul, which makes me write, is Armenian. This means I am an Armenian writer and deeply love the honor of being a part of the family of Armenian wrtiters.
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My work is writing, but my real work is being.
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In the end, today is forever, yesterday is still today, and tomorrow is already today.
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Everything and everybody is sooner or later identified, defined, and put in perspective. The truth as always is simultaneously better and worse than what the popular myth-making has it.
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Indians are born with an instinct for riding, rowing, hunting, fishing, and swimming. Americans are born with an instinct for fooling around with machines.
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One day in the afternoon of the world, glum death will come and sit in you, and when you get up to walk, you will be as glum as death, but if you're lucky, this will only make the fun better and the love greater.
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The writer who is a real writer is a rebel who never stops.
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You must not be unkind, especially when it happens that you're right.
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All I can do is write my stories for mankind, and rest easy.
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Sometimes the most intelligent thing is not to do anything, certainly nothing loaded with the imbecility of emotionality.
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Every man in the world is better than someone else and not as good someone else.
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There is little pride in writers. They know they are human and shall some day die and be forgotten. Knowing all this a writer is gentle and kindly where another man is severe and unkind.
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People is all everything is, all it has ever been, all it can ever be.
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