Cynthia Voigt Quotes

Powerful Cynthia Voigt for Daily Growth

About Cynthia Voigt

Cynthia Voigt, a distinguished American novelist born on July 18, 1942, in New York City, is renowned for her captivating children's literature that transcends age boundaries with its depth and complexity. Growing up in suburban Long Island, Voigt developed an early love for reading, which was nurtured by her parents who encouraged a voracious appetite for books. Voigt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Skidmore College in 1964, followed by a Master's degree from Columbia University Teachers College in 1967. She began her career as an educator, working in various capacities within the educational system before dedicating herself fully to writing in the early 1980s. Her breakthrough work came with the publication of "Homecoming" in 1981, the first book in her critically acclaimed Tillerman Cycle series. The series follows the lives of the Tillerman siblings as they navigate challenges and growth in a blended family setting, demonstrating Voigt's exceptional talent for exploring complex themes through the eyes of young characters. Other notable works include "Coming On Home Soon" (1984), "A Solitary Blue" (1987), and "Dicey's Song" (1989). These novels, like her others, reflect Voigt's deep understanding of the human condition and her ability to write engaging, emotionally resonant stories for readers of all ages. Voigt has received numerous accolades for her work, including two Newbery Honor awards, one for "Dicey's Song" in 1989 and another for "The Runner" in 2002. Her unique storytelling style continues to captivate readers, making her a beloved figure in the world of children's literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The things you want have a way of being where you least expect them."

This quote by Cynthia Voigt highlights the unpredictable nature of life, suggesting that our deepest desires or 'things we want' may not always be found in the places where we actively search for them, but rather in unexpected circumstances or situations. It encourages patience and an open mind, as our goals and aspirations can sometimes emerge in the most unlikely of places.


"It isn't the start that makes a story, but the choices along the way."

This quote emphasizes that the pivotal elements in a story, whether it be fiction or one's personal journey, are not the initial circumstances but rather the decisions and actions taken throughout the course of the narrative. It suggests that our lives are shaped by the choices we make, and these choices define the path and the outcome of our stories.


"Some people can find love in any situation, like Dice and Toby finding each other in such different families."

This quote emphasizes that love can transcend various circumstances, even when the individuals involved seem to have vastly different backgrounds or upbringings (as represented by Dice and Toby). It suggests that true connection and affection can develop between people who might not initially seem compatible due to their differences, highlighting the power of empathy, understanding, and shared experiences in forging meaningful relationships.


"But once someone is out of sight, anything might happen to him. That was how stories got started."

This quote by Cynthia Voigt suggests that the unknown or unseen can spark our imagination, creating the basis for a story. When someone disappears from view, our minds fill in the gaps with possibilities, leading to the formation of narratives about their experiences. Essentially, the idea is that stories are born from curiosity and speculation when we lose sight of something or someone.


"It's the little things that make the difference between the places that seem safe and the ones that don't feel quite right."

This quote suggests that safety, or a sense of comfort and well-being, is often defined by subtle details rather than overarching factors. The "little things" could refer to anything from a welcoming smile, a familiar scent, or the sound of a favorite song in an otherwise unfamiliar place. These small aspects can either reinforce a feeling of security or create unease, making a location feel safe or less so. In essence, Voigt's quote emphasizes that it is the cumulative effect of minor details that helps us distinguish between places that appear secure and those that seem less so.


I think writing is a part-time career, because otherwise you get a little stale, maybe even self-indulgent, when you have to fill the hours with sentences. I don't think, if I wrote 12 hours a day, my work would be much better.

- Cynthia Voigt

Career, Self-Indulgent, Part-Time

I'm not a compulsive writer. I wish I could be compulsive about something. I have no regular writing routine.

- Cynthia Voigt

Wish, Routine, I Wish, Compulsive

My writing process often begins with a question. I write down ideas and let them stew for about a year. Then, when I sit down to write, I make a list of characters and try to see how they fit.

- Cynthia Voigt

Year, I Write, About, Writing Process

By the time I started high school, I knew I wanted to be a writer. After graduating from Smith College in Massachusetts, I moved to New York City and worked for the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson.

- Cynthia Voigt

College, By The Time, Smith, Massachusetts

My favorite season was when I wrote every morning for three or four hours, then I would go and teach my classes at school, come home to my family and hang out with them, have dinner, and then, after everyone was tucked in, I would prepare for my classes the next day.

- Cynthia Voigt

Prepare, Next, Hang, Season

I'm a big fan of outlining. Here's the theory: If I outline, then I can see the mistakes I'm liable to make. They come out more clearly in the outline than they do in the pages.

- Cynthia Voigt

Big, More, Here, Liable

To see what books were available for my older students, I made many trips to the library. If a book looked interesting, I checked it out. I once went home with 30 books! It was then that I realized that kids' novels had the shape of real books, and I began to get ideas for young adult novels and juvenile books.

- Cynthia Voigt

Book, Young, Available, Trips

All I wanted to do was read, to be told stories. Stories were full of excitement and emotions and characters that entertained and often inspired.

- Cynthia Voigt

Emotions, Stories, Read, Entertained

One day at my grandmother's house, I discovered 'The Secret Garden' and read it. This was the first book I found entirely for myself, and I cherished it.

- Cynthia Voigt

Book, Discovered, Read, Garden

Kids are really tougher than adults, but we tend to forget this in an affluent society that lets kids indulge themselves.

- Cynthia Voigt

Affluent, Lets, Really, Indulge

I was no scholar in college, and was arrogant about what I thought.

- Cynthia Voigt

College, Thought, Arrogant, Scholar

Reading was my hobby, my sport and my activity of choice. It was the prime pleasure of my days, an unfailing escape from whatever realities were distressing me, and the only source of pride I knew, other vanities lying beyond my grasp. I couldn't do anything else well, but I could do words.

- Cynthia Voigt

Activity, Other, Source, Escape

I do have trouble starting books. I have ideas that I have trouble starting to write. But I'm the kind of person who tends to finish everything she starts out of sheer stubbornness.

- Cynthia Voigt

Ideas, Kind, Stubbornness, Tends

I was eighteen when I wrote my first book, and I can't remember what it was called. I have no idea where the manuscript is - I lost it when I was twenty-one.

- Cynthia Voigt

Idea, Twenty-One, Wrote, No Idea

I used to know kids better because I was teaching in a classroom, but I still have a sense of comfort with them. I don't believe that kids have essentially changed.

- Cynthia Voigt

Sense, Still, Teaching, Classroom

It's so great to be able to write from home. My bread is rising downstairs, and I'm upstairs writing. I have a writing room that my grandchildren consider one of their playrooms.

- Cynthia Voigt

Grandchildren, Bread, Rising, Upstairs

I didn't write anything at all except book reports until I was in seventh grade, and then I wrote mostly poetry for myself.

- Cynthia Voigt

Book, Reports, Mostly, Seventh

I love teaching; I love little kids.

- Cynthia Voigt

Love, Little Kids, I Love, Teaching

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