Diana Galbadon Quotes

Powerful Diana Galbadon for Daily Growth

About Diana Galbadon

Diana Gabaldon, a prolific and versatile author, was born on April 15, 1952, in White Plains, New York, USA. She grew up in various parts of the world due to her father's Air Force career, which instilled in her a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and historical settings. Gabaldon earned a PhD in Scottish Literature from the University of Edinburgh in 1984. Her fascination with Scotland led her to live there temporarily, where she met her husband, Douglas Reid, and fell in love with the Scottish Highlands, a setting that would later become central to her most famous work. In 1991, Gabaldon published her first novel, "Cross Stitch" (known as "Outlander" outside North America), launching her into stardom. The novel is the first installment of the eight-book Outlander series, a sweeping epic that blends romance, history, and science fiction, set against the backdrop of 18th-century Scotland and the Jacobite rebellion. The Outlander series has been adapted into a critically acclaimed television show on Starz, further cementing Gabaldon's place as a beloved author. Her works have sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making her one of the bestselling authors of all time. In addition to her literary success, Gabaldon is also known for her philanthropy and activism, particularly in support of environmental causes. She currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she continues to write compelling stories that captivate readers around the globe.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"There is a tale running like a lettered river through the minds of men, and it's telling itself to me now."

This quote by Diana Gabaldon suggests that stories, or the collective human narrative, have an inherent power and presence within our consciousness. They flow naturally, just as rivers do, permeating and shaping thoughts in a universal, timeless manner. She implies that these stories are self-evident, revealing themselves to those who are open to listening. This is a beautiful way of emphasizing the profound impact narratives have on human thought and culture.


"You have to live, really live, before you can die."

This quote by Diana Gabaldon emphasizes the importance of living a life fully experienced rather than just existing. It suggests that one should seize every moment and make the most of their time on earth. To truly live means to immerse oneself in experiences, emotions, relationships, and personal growth. Only when we have lived a rich, meaningful life can we die peacefully, knowing we've made the best use of our time on this planet.


"The greatest joy you can know is to have your spirit soar, as mine does now, at the thought that I can give a second chance to those who have been denied theirs."

This quote by Diana Gabaldon highlights the profound satisfaction one can experience when offering a fresh opportunity to individuals who were previously deprived of it. It underscores the idea that helping others regain or rediscover their lives can bring immense joy, as it transcends the confines of our own existence and allows us to contribute significantly to someone else's journey.


"It was the promise of the journey to come that made each approach, each crossing of the threshold, seem magic."

This quote by Diana Gabaldon encapsulates the essence of anticipation and excitement that comes with embarking on a new adventure or experience. The magic she refers to is not only in the actual journey but also in the promise or potentiality it holds, making every step towards it feel enchanting and transformative. It's a reminder that life's wonders often lie ahead, beckoning us forward with hope and curiosity.


"Revenge is a very slippery impulse, when it takes a human shape."

This quote by Diana Gabaldon suggests that human-driven revenge, although it may initially appear justified or satisfying, can often lead to unintended consequences or complications. The "slippery" nature of revenge refers to its ability to elude control and escalate beyond the intended target or goal, potentially causing more harm than good along the way. This quote serves as a reminder that actions driven by revenge should be approached with caution, as they may not bring about the desired outcome and could lead to further problems or unforeseen repercussions.


A romance is a courtship story. In the 19th century, the definition of the romance genre was an escape from daily life that included adventure and love and battle. But in the 20th century, that term changed, and now it's deemed only a love story, specifically a courtship story.

- Diana Galbadon

Love, Romance, 19th Century, Love Story

Cultural concepts are one of the most fascinating things about historical fiction. There's always a temptation, I think, among some historical writers to shade things toward the modern point of view. You know, they won't show someone doing something that would have been perfectly normal for the time but that is considered reprehensible today.

- Diana Galbadon

Doing, Some, Been, Temptation

People ask me why I write strong women, and I say, 'Well, I don't like stupid ones.' Who would want to read about weak and whiny women? Are they people who assume women are weak and whiny? If so, why do they think that?

- Diana Galbadon

Strong, Stupid, I Write, Women Are

Normally, it takes me about three years to write one of the big books. It is usually four years between releases because of the huge amount of travel and PR and just nuisance going on around them. I have a lot of pressure from publishers and agents.

- Diana Galbadon

Big, Three, About, Normally

Back in the day, years ago, in 1988, the only TV I watched was 'Doctor Who' because I had children and two full-time jobs, and 'Doctor Who' was the exact length of time it took to do my nails, so I would watch 'Doctor Who' once a week!

- Diana Galbadon

Week, Full-Time, TV, Exact

I understand the visual media very well, as I used to write comic books for Walt Disney, and I've written a graphic novel. How you carry a story in pictures is different than how you do it in text.

- Diana Galbadon

Media, Very, Comic Books, Disney

I don't work in a straight line. I don't write with an outline. I write where I can see things happen, and then things get glued together.

- Diana Galbadon

Work, Happen, Straight Line, Glued

Whenever you're dealing with something that's difficult to describe, that you can't get across to someone in a sound bite, it sounds like the normal default is to pick what's easiest, and in the case of fiction written by women, fiction involving women, fiction involving any sort of relationship, the word that comes to mind is 'romance.'

- Diana Galbadon

Sound, Fiction, Romance, Sound Bite

At one point, some years ago, a nice gentleman had it in mind to do 'Outlander' the musical. His idea was to start with a CD of what you call a song cycle, with a dozen high points of the projected show. It turned out very well, though we had to stop doing it when the TV show came along.

- Diana Galbadon

Doing, Some, Very, Projected

My sixth book, 'A Breath of Snow and Ashes,' was nominated for a number of book awards, one of which was The Quill Award, and they had it in New York at the Natural History Museum.

- Diana Galbadon

New, Natural, Which, Ashes

I learned just recently, in fact, that a lot of people who read do not form a visual image from what they're reading. They just don't. They follow the events and get the resonance with the language, but they have only a vague, general idea of what the characters look like.

- Diana Galbadon

Fact, Vague, Idea, Resonance

It takes me about three years to write a book. They're very complex, and they take a lot of research, but also because the more popular your books get, the more popular you get, and people want to haul you off and look at you.

- Diana Galbadon

Book, Very, About, Haul

I've had no fewer than three young women on separate occasions come up to me at book signings and unzip their pants, turn around, and drop them to show me that they had 'Bonnie lassie' tattooed across their rumpuses!

- Diana Galbadon

Drop, Pants, Separate, Occasions

I'm not one of these writers who says, 'Oh yes, the next book is due out in one year and three days.' I just say, 'You're gonna get it when it's done. It's gonna be good, but you're not going to get it until it is good.'

- Diana Galbadon

Book, Year, Next, Due

I've never seen anyone deal in a literary way with what it takes to stay married for more than 50 years, and that seemed like a worthy goal.

- Diana Galbadon

Goal, Deal, Seemed, Worthy

In a great many stories that deal with time travel, there's usually somebody who knows how time travel works. They lay out the rules.

- Diana Galbadon

Deal, Stories, Works, Lay

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