James A. Michener
James A. Michener
James Albert Michenerwas an American author of more than 40 books, the majority of which were fictional, lengthy family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history. Michener was known for the popularity of his works; he had numerous bestsellers and works selected for Book of the Month Club. He was also known for his meticulous research behind the books...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth3 February 1907
CountryUnited States of America
America is a nation with many flaws, but hopes so vast that only the cowardly would refuse to acknowledge them.
Public libraries have been a mainstay of my life. They represent an individual's right to acquire knowledge; they are the sinews that bind civilized societies the world over. Without libraries, I would be a pauper, intellectually and spiritually.
I was born to a woman I never knew and raised by another who took in orphans. I do not know my background, my lineage, my biological or cultural heritage. But when I meet someone new, I treat them with respect.... For after all, they could be my people.
We are never prepared for what we expect.
If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.
You have to be eligible for luck to strike, and I think that's a matter of education and preparation, and character and all the other solid attributes that sometimes people laugh at.
If your book doesn't keep you up nights when you are writing it, it won't keep anyone up nights reading it.
If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.
The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both.
I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.
Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them.
Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.
Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today because if you enjoy it today, you can do it again tomorrow.