J. D. Salinger's Quotes

An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's.

J. D. Salinger

How do you know you're going to do something, untill you do it?

J. D. Salinger

I am a kind of paranoid in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.

J. D. Salinger

I'm sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I could respect.

J. D. Salinger

I was about half in love with her by the time we sat down. That's the thing about girls. Every time they do something pretty... you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are.

J. D. Salinger

Mothers are all slightly insane.

J. D. Salinger

There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It's peaceful. Still. Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy.

J. D. Salinger

You take somebody that cries their goddam eyes out over phoney stuff in the movies, and nine times out of ten they're mean bastards at heart.

J. D. Salinger

It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.

J. D. Salinger

I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody.

J. D. Salinger