Gregory Maguire Quotes

Powerful Gregory Maguire for Daily Growth

About Gregory Maguire

Gregory Maguire, born on December 26, 1954, is an acclaimed American novelist and scriptwriter, renowned for his captivating storytelling, dark wit, and imaginative reinterpretations of classic tales. Born in Upstate New York and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Maguire's early years were heavily influenced by his Catholic education and the lush natural landscapes of rural America. These formative experiences often find their way into his intricate narratives, infusing them with a rich tapestry of spirituality and nature. After graduating from College of William & Mary in 1976, Maguire embarked on a career in music journalism before turning to writing fiction. His breakthrough came with the publication of "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" in 1995, a retelling of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" from the perspective of the witches, which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical. Maguire's subsequent works include the novels "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister," "Mirror Mirror," and the Eisner Award-winning comic book series "Haughty Cricket." His most recent works include "Etherfield Grace" (2019) and "Borrowed Names: Poems about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Emily Dickinson, and Marsden Hartley" (2020). Throughout his career, Maguire has been celebrated for his ability to reimagine familiar stories, breathe new life into classic characters, and offer thought-provoking commentary on society, love, and loss. His work continues to captivate readers worldwide, drawing them into enchanting worlds that resonate deeply with both the young and old.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Every when was a first time."

This quote by Gregory Maguire highlights the inherent novelty in every moment, especially when referring to the start of something new. It reminds us that even routine events or situations we've experienced before are unique due to their context, our current state, and the lessons we bring from past experiences. Essentially, it underlines the importance of embracing the freshness and potential growth in every instance, as they all mark a "first time" in some way.


"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly."

This quote by Gregory Maguire emphasizes the power of imagination, suggesting it's a profound and liberating force comparable to flying the highest kite. Imagination represents our ability to create, envision, and soar beyond the confines of reality, enabling us to explore limitless possibilities and territories inaccessible through physical means. It's an essential human capacity that transcends boundaries, inspires art, and fosters innovation, making it one of the most potent tools we possess for personal growth and societal progression.


"The truth doesn't have to be beautiful. It just has to be true."

This quote suggests that truth, in its essence, need not conform to aesthetic or moral standards; it simply needs to accurately reflect reality. Beauty is subjective, often influenced by cultural norms, personal biases, and individual tastes. However, truth transcends these factors as it represents the factual state of the world, irrespective of how it may be perceived or felt. In other words, while beauty is in the eye of the beholder, truth stands independent and unyielding.


"We live in a world where people are trying to become something other than what they are."

This quote by Gregory Maguire suggests that many individuals strive to transform themselves into someone else, or a version of themselves that is different from their authentic self, often in an attempt to fit societal norms, expectations, or ideals. It underscores the idea that people are frequently seeking external validation and perfection, rather than embracing their inherent qualities and individuality. The quote serves as a reflection on human nature, highlighting our tendency to mask our true selves for various reasons, such as fear, insecurity, or the pursuit of acceptance and success.


"Wickedness isn't so much a matter of evil as it is a matter of being careless with the truth."

This quote suggests that wickedness, or wrongdoing, often arises not from intentional malice but rather from carelessness or indifference towards truth. In other words, when we fail to respect or prioritize truth in our actions, we risk causing harm or injustice unintentionally, making us "wicked" in a broader sense of being morally reckless or irresponsible.


My tastes in music tend to favor anything my kids don't like, out of natural antipathy amplified by a sort of malicious glee.

- Gregory Maguire

Natural, Like, Amplified, Tastes

When I began 'Wicked', I really thought of it entirely as a one-off, as the English say. There was no intention that there should ever be a follow up, because the subtitle was 'The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West'. She was dead and gone, as the book says, at the end.

- Gregory Maguire

Book, Thought, Dead, Witch

My first job was scooping ice cream at Friendly's in Albany, New York. I hated the work, most of my colleagues, and the uniform, and I more or less lost my taste for ice cream permanently.

- Gregory Maguire

Ice, Taste, Friendly, Ice Cream

When I write a book, I write very cleanly from page one to the last page. I hardly ever write out of sequence.

- Gregory Maguire

Last, Very, I Write, Hardly

While I pride myself on trying to be creative in all areas of my life, I have occasionally gone overboard, like the time I decided to bring to a party a salad that I constructed, on a huge rattan platter, to look like a miniature scale model of the Gardens of Babylon.

- Gregory Maguire

My Life, Salad, Platter, Babylon

I never write a book unless I can't help it. Something has to bother me, like a mosquito, until I have to do something to relieve the itch.

- Gregory Maguire

Like, Itch, Bother, Mosquito

I write because I admire the act of rationalization, of seeking clarity in one's understanding of the complexities of life, and I'm bad at it. I'm slow. Writing, which is an arduous and slow process, proceeds at the same rate as my sloth-like mind.

- Gregory Maguire

Admire, Bad, I Write, Complexities

In a sense, 'Out of Oz' is an examination of how individuals keep going, keep reinventing themselves and their lives, even after life-altering complications have afflicted them.

- Gregory Maguire

Going, Complications, Lives, Reinventing

I actually prefer female voices to listen to, mostly, but among the male singers whose voices I like are Jeff Buckley, Art Garfunkel, that sort of voice. Contemporary crooners rather than rockers.

- Gregory Maguire

Voice, Singers, Mostly, Rockers

I was just about to begin writing 'Mirror Mirror', within about a week of it, when September 11, 2001 happened. I found myself incapable of caring about fiction-making for a number of months.

- Gregory Maguire

Mirror, Week, Months, Incapable

I like classical music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and I adore Bach above all.

- Gregory Maguire

Like, Centuries, Classical, Classical Music

Have you ever noticed when you look in a mirror, unless you're really depressed or something, the person in the mirror generally looks a little more competent, a little more curious, a little more intelligent than you actually feel yourself to be? They often look more interesting and more soulful.

- Gregory Maguire

Mirror, Looks, Feel, Soulful

I'm a comic writer, in some ways, and a comic person when I'm up at a podium, in order to disguise the fact that in my heart I'm disgustingly earnest.

- Gregory Maguire

Heart, Fact, Some, Earnest

The story of 'Mirror Mirror' is in many ways a story about evolution. It's about the evolution of a child into an adult. It's about the evolution of those dwarves into something a little less rock-like, a little more humanoid. It's about the evolution of history, too, from the darkness of the Middle Ages into the light of the Age of Reason.

- Gregory Maguire

Mirror, Reason, About, Middle Ages

I had written children's books for 14 years before I published 'Wicked.' And none of them were poorly reviewed, and none of them sold enough for me to be able to buy a bed.

- Gregory Maguire

Bed, Poorly, Sold, Published

I'm not a writer because I want to make money. I'm a writer because I'm a very slow thinker, but I do care about thinking, and the only way I know how to think with any kind of finesse is by telling stories.

- Gregory Maguire

Think, Very, Telling, Thinker

I like to think I'm a pretty good-natured guy and pretty civil and probably not ever truly guilty in any serious way of any legal infractions.

- Gregory Maguire

Think, Pretty, Like, Good-Natured

I do love to sing. Had I a longer set of thigh bones and a sweeter voice, I should have loved to be a performer.

- Gregory Maguire

Love, Voice, Sweeter, Bones

I didn't even realize this at first, but there's almost no central character in any of my 24 books who doesn't have a dead mother or a lost parent.

- Gregory Maguire

Parent, Dead, Almost, Central

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