Andrew Vachss Quotes

Powerful Andrew Vachss for Daily Growth

About Andrew Vachss

Andrew Vachss, a prominent American novelist known primarily for his crime fiction, was born on December 14, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York. Raised in an orphanage from the age of four, Vachss experienced hardship early in life which later influenced his writing style and choice of genre. Vachss pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens College in 1963 and then a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law in 1968. He worked as a criminal defense attorney for over two decades in Boston, Massachusetts, which further enriched his understanding of the human condition within the criminal justice system. In 1982, Vachss published his first novel, "The Burglar Who Counted Spoons," under the pseudonym Victor Isley. This marked the beginning of his successful writing career. His most popular series features the character Burke, a private investigator who also happens to be blind. This unique character is a testament to Vachss's creative imagination and his commitment to portraying complex, flawed characters that readers can connect with deeply. Other notable works by Vachss include the Fritz & Gianna series, which focuses on the adventures of a father-daughter team working as private investigators, and standalone novels such as "The Weight" (1996) and "Eddie Odum" (2004). Vachss's writing is marked by its gritty realism, moral complexity, and strong social justice themes. He has been open about his experiences in the orphanage and his work as a criminal defense attorney influencing his writing. Vachss is also known for his advocacy for children's rights and animal welfare, often incorporating these issues into his novels.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Justice is a dream that die hard."

The quote by Andrew Vachss, "Justice is a dream that dies hard," suggests that justice, despite being an abstract ideal, persists in people's hopes and aspirations, even when it appears unattainable or has been delayed for an extended period. It implies that the pursuit of fairness, equality, and righteousness remains a strong human desire, even if faced with obstacles or disappointments. This quote serves as a reminder that despite the many challenges in achieving justice, humanity should not abandon its pursuit but rather strive to keep it alive through persistent efforts.


"The world makes sense if you trust it but not if you fear it."

This quote emphasizes the power of trust versus fear in shaping our perception and understanding of the world. When we trust the world, we approach it with confidence and openness, allowing us to make sense of its complexities and find meaning. In contrast, when we live in fear, we become closed off, suspicious, and may struggle to understand or appreciate the world around us. Trust encourages growth, understanding, and a positive outlook on life, whereas fear can lead to stagnation, paranoia, and negativity. The quote suggests that maintaining trust, even in uncertain situations, is crucial for living a fulfilling and enlightened life.


"Courage is not the absence of fear, it's doing what must be done despite of it."

This quote emphasizes that courage is not about being fearless, but rather choosing to act in the face of fear. It suggests that everyone experiences fear, but true courage comes from acknowledging that fear and pushing through it to accomplish what needs to be done.


"There are no shortcuts in justice."

This quote emphasizes the idea that achieving justice requires effort, time, and dedication; there are no easy or quick solutions to ensuring fairness or righting wrongs. It underscores the importance of thorough investigation, thoughtful deliberation, and careful implementation when pursuing justice.


"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." (This one is actually a Martin Luther King Jr quote, but Vachss often references this idea in his work)

This quote underscores the interconnectedness of justice, suggesting that the absence of fairness in any part of society poses a risk to justice as a whole. It implies that every injustice, regardless of its location or scale, has the potential to undermine the very principles of justice and equality that are fundamental to a well-functioning society. In essence, it calls on individuals and communities to stand against injustice wherever they encounter it, as injustices allowed to persist can lead to a cascade of further inequalities and harm, threatening justice for all.


Fighting means you could lose. Bullying means you can't. A bully wants to beat somebody; he doesn't want to fight somebody.

- Andrew Vachss

Lose, Could, Means, Beat

Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change.

- Andrew Vachss

Social Change, Social, Progressive

Crime takes the pulse of a culture. It tells us the truth about us as a species.

- Andrew Vachss

Truth, Tells, Species, Pulse

I did criminal defense work part-time, and that paid the bills for representing abused and neglected children... and for defending in juvenile court those kids the 'child protective system' had missed when it had the chance.

- Andrew Vachss

Work, Chance, Missed, Part-Time

While early childhood experiences may impel, they do not compel. In the end, evil is a matter of choice.

- Andrew Vachss

Childhood, May, Compel, In The End

The third person narrator, instead of being omniscient, is like a constantly running surveillance tape.

- Andrew Vachss

Running, Third, Tape, Narrator

Ask any experienced defense lawyer: the real risks are for an accused person who is innocent. A guilty defendant has many more options available.

- Andrew Vachss

Innocent, More, Accused, Defendant

I write everything in Courier 12 because I write for publication, not pleasure.

- Andrew Vachss

Pleasure, Because, I Write, Publication

We don't protect our young, and we tolerate predators of our own species.

- Andrew Vachss

Young, Predators, Species, Tolerate

A kid in an abusive home has far fewer rights than any POW. There is no Geneva Convention for kids.

- Andrew Vachss

Kid, Convention, Geneva, Geneva Convention

I don't understand people whose gratification is a BMW. You don't know what joy is until you see a kid who was tortured get adopted by a family.

- Andrew Vachss

Kid, Understand, Tortured, BMW

I think people should be consumers of journalism.

- Andrew Vachss

Think, I Think, Should, Journalism

Journalism is the protection between people and any sort of totalitarian rule. That's why my hero, admittedly a flawed one, is a journalist.

- Andrew Vachss

Protection, Why, Rule, Journalism

I believe my publisher has shown a great deal of faith in me over a lot of years but I'm not prepared to be so arrogant to say that the long-term literary value of my work would compensate them for a financial failure.

- Andrew Vachss

Financial, Deal, Prepared, Publisher

Victimizers of children are the enemies of any so-called society.

- Andrew Vachss

Children, Society, Enemies, So-Called

All children are born pure egoists. They perceive their needs to the exclusion of all others. Only through socialization do they learn that some forms of gratification must be deferred and others denied.

- Andrew Vachss

Through, Some, Needs, Forms

Building a mechanical device for its appearance is like putting lace on a bowling ball.

- Andrew Vachss

Appearance, Ball, Putting, Device

I'm in pursuit of what cannot be achieved: perfection.

- Andrew Vachss

Pursuit, Cannot, Achieved, Perfection

No politician is threatened by the child protective constituency, because it does not exist.

- Andrew Vachss

Politician, Exist, Does, Protective

Ours is a country where anything can be accomplished if enough people get angry... because, in America, we act on our collective anger.

- Andrew Vachss

Angry, Enough, Country, Enough People

Courier 12 is the Type-O blood of fonts - works just as good for a 'N.Y. Times' op-ed as a screenplay or a short story.

- Andrew Vachss

Works, Screenplay, Op-Ed

There is no Constitutional right to prey on others. The Internet is just a piece of technology, like the telephone. Society has the right to modify its uses.

- Andrew Vachss

Prey, Like, Constitutional, Modify

A trial is not a search for truth. It is a contest and, often, one that produces no winners.

- Andrew Vachss

Truth, Search, Winners, Produces

The idea that you're not a writer until you're published is a lie.

- Andrew Vachss

Lie, Idea, Until, Published

I don't even use italics or boldface; that's clutter, not clarity. Fancy fonts are fine for blogs, just as calligraphy is fine for diaries. But when you're writing for anyone other than yourself, you want to get as universal as possible.

- Andrew Vachss

Fancy, Other, Use, Universal

Anyone who says, 'Books don't change anything,' or - more commonly - that crime fiction is the wrong genre for promoting social change - should take a closer look.

- Andrew Vachss

Fiction, Promoting, Commonly, Closer

I hate bullies. I hate them. I'm not good enough with words to describe how much I hate them.

- Andrew Vachss

Words, Not Good Enough, Them, Bullies

I don't take advances for my books.

- Andrew Vachss

Books, Take, Advances

People are pushing against the fabric of society all the time.

- Andrew Vachss

Society, Against, Fabric, Pushing

In some neighborhoods, if you want to walk down the streets, you've got two choices - look down, or look hard.

- Andrew Vachss

Want, Some, Streets, Neighborhoods

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