Edward Abbey
Edward Abbey
Edward Paul Abbeywas an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. His best-known works include the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, which has been cited as an inspiration by radical environmental groups, and the non-fiction work Desert Solitaire...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionActivist
Date of Birth29 January 1927
CountryUnited States of America
falling-in-love fall men
You can't belay a man who's falling in love.
doe might
Might does not make right but it sure makes what is.
character men age
A woman, as much as a man, is responsible by the age of forty for the character of her face. But women, obeying the biological imperative, strive harder to preserve a youthful appearance (the reproductive look) and lose it sooner.
art political world
In the modern world, all literary art is necessarily political -- especially that which pretends not to be.
play tyrants thrones
Shakespeare wrote great poetry and preposterous plays. Who really cares, for example, which petty tyrant rules Milan? Or who succeeds to the throne of Denmark? Or why the barons ganged up on Richard II?
self objectivity moral
There comes a point, in literary objectivity, when the author's self- effacement is hard to distinguish from moral cowardice.
passion beer men
John Updike: our greatest suburban chic-boutique man of letters. A smug and fatal complacency has stunted his growth beyond hope of surgical repair. Not enough passion in his collected works to generate steam in a beer can. Nevertheless, he is considered by some critics to be America's finest *living* author: Hold a chilled mirror to his lips and you will see, presently, a fine and dewy moisture condensing -- like a faery breath! -- upon the glass.
independent honor doe
It is an author's most solemn obligation to honor truth. If the free and independent writer does not speak truth to power, who will?
art enemy looks
There is a fine art to making enemies and it requires diligent cultivation. It's not as easy as it looks.
museums world-literature pay
Most of what we call the classics of world literature suggest artifacts in a wax museum. We have to hire and pay professors to get them read and talked about.
lying book writing
In order to write a book, it is necessary to sit down (or stand up) and write. Therein lies the difficulty.
art great-art art-is
Great art is indefinable but that's all right; it exists anyway.
moving agreement voice
Why the critics, like a flock of ducks, always move in perfect unison: Their authority with the public depends upon an appearance of unanimous agreement. One dissenting voice would shatter the whole fragile structure.
answers tasks insolent
It is not the writer's task to answer questions but to question answers. To be impertinent, insolent, and, if necessary, subversive.