ByQuotes

Etgar Keret Quotes

Powerful Etgar Keret for Daily Growth

About Etgar Keret

Etgar Keret (born March 16, 1967) is an acclaimed Israeli short-story writer, comic book artist, and screenwriter, renowned for his whimsical, poignant, and often surreal narratives that blend elements of fantasy, magic realism, and satire. Born in Ramat Gan, Israel, Keret grew up in a family with strong literary influences. His father, Moshe Keret, was an author and poet, and his mother, Miriam, worked as an editor. His early life experiences would significantly shape his writing career, with stories often drawn from his personal encounters and the unique cultural landscape of Israel. Keret began publishing short stories in Israeli literary magazines at a young age. One of his earliest works, "The Nimrod Flip-Out," was published when he was only 19 years old. In 1996, his first collection of short stories, "Kneller's Happy Campers," was translated into English and gained international recognition. The book featured many themes that would become synonymous with Keret's writing, such as the absurdity of everyday life, existential angst, and the surreal twists that subvert conventional narratives. In addition to his short stories, Keret has also written graphic novels and contributed to various film projects, including collaborations with directors like Michel Gondry and Wes Anderson. His works have been translated into over 40 languages, earning him widespread acclaim. In 2015, he was a finalist for the Man Booker International Prize for his collection of stories, "Galaxy Fight: Stories." Today, Etgar Keret continues to produce engaging, thought-provoking work that captivates audiences worldwide and reflects the richness and complexity of human experience. His unique storytelling style has made him one of Israel's most significant contemporary authors and a cherished voice in global literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."

This quote by Etgar Keret suggests that instead of waiting for difficult times to end, we should learn to cope with them and find joy amidst adversity. It encourages a resilient mindset and emphasizes the importance of enjoying life even when faced with challenges or hardships, much like dancing in the rain. This outlook can help us appreciate the moments that often get overlooked and cultivate a more fulfilling and adaptable way of living.

"I don't know if I believe in God, but I know that I believe in miracles."

Etgar Keret's quote suggests a person who acknowledges the existence of extraordinary events or phenomena beyond ordinary understanding, often referred to as "miracles," yet questions or is uncertain about the traditional concept of God. It reflects an individual who values the mystery and wonder of life, appreciating unexpected events that challenge the limits of reason, while maintaining a skepticism towards established religious beliefs.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm standing on the edge of a cliff and I just keep jumping, and every time I open my eyes I find out I've got wings."

This quote suggests that even in uncertain or precarious situations (standing on the edge of a cliff), the individual is taking bold actions (jumping). However, instead of plummeting to the ground as one might expect, they discover they have the ability to fly (wings) after each jump. Metaphorically, this quote emphasizes the importance of taking risks and embracing uncertainty, as it often leads to unexpected growth and development in one's personal or professional life.

"There are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened."

This quote by Etgar Keret illustrates a fundamental aspect of human behavior in society. It suggests that there are three primary roles individuals often assume when it comes to initiating or influencing change: 1. Those who make things happen - These are proactive individuals who take the initiative, drive ideas forward, and actively bring about change. They are problem solvers, innovators, and leaders. 2. Those who watch things happen - These people observe events as they unfold around them but may not necessarily play an active role in shaping those events. Sometimes, they may provide support or feedback to the "makers" but do not initiate change themselves. They can be observers, learners, or followers. 3. Those who wonder what happened - These individuals often miss out on opportunities for active involvement and are left questioning why things occurred without their input or awareness. They may struggle to adapt or respond when change occurs unexpectedly. The quote serves as a reminder that each role is essential in society, fostering growth, learning, and understanding among us all. It encourages us to find our place within the dynamic landscape of life, whether we are "makers," "watchers," or "wonderers."

"Love is like a big black dog that follows you everywhere, even into the bathroom."

This quote suggests that love is an omnipresent, constant companion, much like a large, unavoidable black dog. It goes with us wherever we go, even to personal spaces like the bathroom, emphasizing its pervasive and enduring nature in our lives. Love is not something we can easily escape or avoid; rather, it follows us faithfully, offering comfort, support, and an ever-present reminder of its presence.

When I write a story, I have no idea what I'm doing. All I know is that I want to share something with my readers. The whole idea of writing is this place where you lose control, where you're irresponsible - it's a very liberating place.

- Etgar Keret

Doing, Very, I Write, Liberating

I used to feel that if I say something's wrong, I have to say how it could be made right. But what I learned from Kurt Vonnegut was that I could write stories that say I may not have a solution, but this is wrong - that's good enough.

- Etgar Keret

May, Stories, Learned, I May Not

I write in a slangy colloquial speech that has not been common in the Israeli tradition of writing, and that is one of the things that gets lost a little in translation.

- Etgar Keret

Been, One Of The Things, Translation

I tried once in my life to write a novel. I had written something like 80 pages of it when my laptop got stolen. When I told people this, they acted as if something tragic had happened, but I kind of felt relieved, grateful to the thief who saved me from another year of something that felt more like homework than fun.

- Etgar Keret

My Life, Saved, Thief, Stolen

When I started writing my stories, I thought that not only nobody outside my language, but nobody outside my neighbourhood would get them.

- Etgar Keret

Thought, Started, Stories, Neighbourhood

I don't have Facebook or Twitter accounts yet. Being a compulsive storyteller, I always make up for myself discouraging stories about how such accounts will get me into embarrassing and time-consuming situations.

- Etgar Keret

How, About, Twitter, Compulsive

I have to admit that talking authoritatively about my students' stories can make me feel, at times, like an astronaut who has just landed on a new planet and insists on giving guided tours to its inhabitants.

- Etgar Keret

New, Stories, Inhabitants, Guided

Generally, all my life, I have had strong friction with life - I was a problematic soldier, I was kicked out of the army, I was in fights. There was something about writing that was a way of experimenting with this emotion.

- Etgar Keret

Strong, My Life, Fights, Friction

In Israel, the role of the writer is dictated by the language in which you write. Writers see themselves as cultural prophets.

- Etgar Keret

Language, Role, Which, Dictated

What you experience in the army, aged 18 to 21, is what you take through all your life. You cross invisible lines: you shoot someone, get shot, break into people's houses. It's naive to think you won't carry anything into your life.

- Etgar Keret

Invisible, Through, Your, All Your Life

When I say a spoken Hebrew sentence, half of it is like the King James Bible and half of it is a hip-hop lyric. It has a roller-coaster effect.

- Etgar Keret

Bible, Sentence, Half, Roller-Coaster

I was first introduced to Kafka's writing during my compulsory army-service basic training. During that period, Kafka's fiction felt hyperrealistic.

- Etgar Keret

Fiction, Period, Felt, Compulsory

Being published in Arabic is a strong and consistent wish I have. I live in the Middle East and want to be in some sort of an unpragmatic dialogue with my neighbors.

- Etgar Keret

Strong, Middle, Some, Arabic

Most of the Jewish writer friends I have are American, and I feel closer to them because they're always obsessed with one issue - identity: what does it mean to be an American Jew?

- Etgar Keret

Always, Obsessed, Issue, Closer

I see creative-writing classes as some sort of AA meeting. It is more of a support group for people who write than an actual course in which you learn writing skills. This support group is extremely important because there is something very lonely about writing.

- Etgar Keret

Some, Very, Classes, Meeting

In the army you feel violated - there's no private space. Writing was a life-saver, a way of recovering private territory.

- Etgar Keret

Army, Private, Violated, Territory

In Israel, there is this reduction of the political discourse to something that is very limited. It's as if you have that pitch that only dogs can hear. Sometimes I feel I speak at such a pitch that very few people around me communicate with what I'm saying.

- Etgar Keret

Sometimes, Communicate, Very, Discourse

I rarely return to characters. My characters, at least most of them, are much more a part of that superorganism that is the story than separate and independent creatures.

- Etgar Keret

Independent, More, Separate, Return

It took a lot to understand that the interest in both writing a story and reading it is not in the objective dangers someone takes. You don't have to fight snakes or wake up in a strange apartment to have a story; it's about what goes on inside your mind and soul.

- Etgar Keret

Soul, About, Dangers, Objective

Sometimes, when you are in a really constrained situation, it makes you more focused about what you want to say and where you're heading. The most beautiful love poems that were ever written are sonnets, composed in a very constraining form.

- Etgar Keret

Love, Sometimes, Very, Composed

Being ambivalent doesn't mean that you're a relevatist, that anything goes; it just means that you show the complexity of life. Life is always complex.

- Etgar Keret

Always, Complexity, Means, Ambivalent

Writing a story is kind of like surfing, as opposed to the novel, where you use a GPS to get somewhere. With surfing, you kind of jump.

- Etgar Keret

Kind, Like, Opposed, Jump

The reason I write is that I'm not in dialogue with my emotions; writing puts me in touch with myself.

- Etgar Keret

Emotions, Reason, I Write, Dialogue

Before I started to make films, I didn't give much thought to the way the characters were physically positioned in the story world.

- Etgar Keret

Thought, Give, Films, Physically

My stories are very compact. I want them to say the most complex things in the simplest way.

- Etgar Keret

Very, Simplest, Stories, Complex

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.