Italo Calvino Quotes & Sayings (Page 6)

“The public figure of the writer, the writer-character, the 'personality-cult' of the author, are all becoming for me more and more intolerable in others, and consequently in myself.”

“The satirist is prevented by repulsion from gaining a better knowledge of the world he is attracted to, yet he is forced by attraction to concern himself with the world that repels him.”

“A classic is a work which persists as a background noise even when a present that is totally incompatible with it holds sway.”

“For the critic, the author does not exist; only a certain number of writings exist.”

“I don't believe chance can play a role in my literature.”

“I read Freud because I find him an excellent writer... a writer of police thrillers that can be followed with great passion.”

“I feel so at home in New York that I don't have the urge to write about it.”

“I have never loved any writer as much as Hemingway.”

“I have spent more time with other people's books than with my own. I do not regret it.”

“I'm terrified of writing at night, for then I can't sleep. So I start slowly, slowly writing in the morning and go on into the late afternoon.”