Irving Quotes

“Beauty fades, hair turns gray. Some people are lost before their time. But in the end, we don't remember them for how they looked. We remember how they made us feel.”
― Shari L. Tapscott, Audette of Brookraven

“Oh, good,” said Hugh, but without enthusiasm. “By the way, here is that American novel I told you about. Let me know what you think of it.”
“Anything special?”
“I don’t feel happy about the chapter where Irving and Wayne listen to the whip-poor-will.”
“I’ll study it.”
I took Lot’s Hometown and went back to my room to ring up Hudson.”
― Anthony Powell, What's Become of Waring

“Vielleicht muss es im Leben eines Schriftstellers diesen Augenblick geben, in dem ein anderer Schriftsteller beschuldigt wird, seinen Beruf verfehlt zu haben.”
― John Irving, The World According to Garp

“Con tal disposición y determinación, ¡qué país es éste para el viajero, donde la más mísera posada está tan llena de aventuras como un castillo encantado y cada comida es en sí un logro! ¡Que se quejen otros de la falta de buenos caminos y hoteles suntuosos y de todas las complicadas comodidades de un país culto y civilizado en la mansedumbre y el lugar común, pero a mí que me den el trepar por las ásperas montañas, el andar por ahí errante y las costumbres medio salvajes, pero francas y hospitalarias, que le dan un sabor tan exquisito a la querida, vieja y romántica España!”
― Washington Irving, Cuentos de la Alhambra (Narrativa)

“Those who pass their time immured in the smoky circumference of the city, amid the rattling of carts, the brawling of the multitude, and the variety of unmeaning and discordant sounds that prey insensibly upon the nerves, and beget a weariness of the spirits, can alone understand and feel that expansion of the heart, that physical renovation which a citizen experiences when he steals forth from his dusty prison, to breathe the free air of heaven, and enjoy the unsophisticated face of nature. Who that has rambled by the side of one of our majestic rivers, at the hour of sun-set, when the wildly romatick scenery around is softened and tinted by the voluptuous mist of evening; when the bold and swelling outlines of the distant mountain seem melting into the glowing horizon, and rich mantle of refulgence is thrown over the whole expanse of the heavens, but must have felt how abundant is nature in sources of pure enjoyment; how luxuriant in all that can enliven the senses or delight the imagination. The jocund zephyr full freighted with native fragrance, sues sweetly to the senses; the chirping of the thousand varieties of insects with which our woodlands abound, forms a concert of simple melody; even the barking of the farm dog, the lowing of the cattle, the tinkling of their bells, and the strokes of the woodman's axe from the opposite shore, seem to partake of the softness of the scene and fall tunefully upon the ear; while the voice of the villager, chaunting some rustick ballad, swells from a distance, in the semblance of the very musick of harmonious love.”
― Washington Irving, Salmagundi

“Detiene la camioneta para decirme que Marion es "una mujer difícil"' se decía. Incluso a un muchacho de su edad esa manifestación le parecía insincera, mejor dicho, falsa por completo. Era una expresión estrictamente masculina, lo que los hombres que se creían corteses decían de sus ex esposas. Era lo que decía un hombre de una mujer inalcanzable para él, o que de alguna manera se había hecho inaccesible. Era lo que un hombre decía de una mujer cuando quería decir otra cosa, cualquier otra cosa.”
― John Irving, A Widow for One Year

“Oh! the deep subtlety and cunning craftiness of the enemy! calling, in the name of our God, for enlargement of our confidence in him, that we might the more blindly follow on in the course of his deceivableness. And, Oh! the hollowness of our own hearts, which drank in flattery and seduction, and persuaded us we were drinking in the sincere milk of the word, and growing in love and in meekness. And, Oh! the awful justice, and yet redeeming grace, of our God, who, because of our secret pride, which led to a craving after something more than the gentle dew of the Spirit, morning by morning, gave us, indeed, meat to our lust, by leaving us under a spiritual power, which was supernatural and sweet to the taste, but afterwards wormwood and ashes; and yet remembering his mercy, repented him of his anger, and snatched us as brands from the burning.

Surely we have so much of glorious revelation made plain to us, that we can feed upon it in peace and patience, with thanksgiving; and need not to cultivate an unhealthy appetite after crude and novel views, in which we can neither find rest nor edification.”
― Robert Baxter, Narrative of Facts, Characterizing the Supernatural Manifestations in Members of Mr. Irving's Congregation