Howard Fast Quotes

Powerful Howard Fast for Daily Growth

About Howard Fast

Howard Fast (1914-2003), an influential American novelist and screenwriter, was born on November 11, 1914, in New York City. Born as Sidney Fast, he adopted the pen name 'Howard Fast' to distinguish himself from his father, a journalist. Fast grew up during the Great Depression, which significantly influenced his political views and subsequent works. Fast attended City College of New York but dropped out to pursue a career in writing. His early works were primarily for pulp magazines, but he soon moved on to more substantive subjects. In 1943, Fast published his first novel, 'Citizen Tom Paine,' which was a biographical novel about American revolutionary Thomas Paine. This book brought Fast widespread recognition and critical acclaim. Fast's writing career was marked by a strong social consciousness and a focus on political themes. His most famous work, the Spartacus series (1951-1952), is a historical novel that tells the story of the Thracian gladiator who led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic in 73 BC. The series was later adapted into the 1960 film "Spartacus" starring Kirk Douglas. Fast was a committed communist and, during the McCarthy era, was blacklisted due to his political beliefs. He refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and was sentenced to a year in prison for contempt of Congress. He served nine months of this sentence. After regaining his freedom, Fast continued to write, producing numerous works including 'The Immigrants' trilogy (1955), 'The American' (1949), and 'Freedom Road' (1978). His work has been translated into over 30 languages, making him one of the most widely read American authors. Howard Fast died on March 25, 2003, leaving behind a legacy of powerful, politically charged literature that continues to resonate today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"History is not the past. It is the present."

This quote suggests that the lessons, patterns, and events of history continue to shape our current society and experiences. In other words, understanding history helps us comprehend the world as it is today because many aspects of modern life are influenced by historical events, decisions, and trends. Therefore, studying history allows us to understand the present more deeply and make informed choices about our future.

"We know what we are, but know not what we may be."

This quote emphasizes the potential for personal growth and self-discovery. It suggests that while individuals understand their current identities, they are unaware of their future capabilities and possibilities. In essence, it encourages exploration, learning, and transformation, implying that every person has more within them than they currently realize.

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."

This quote by Howard Fast underscores a fundamental principle in societal progress: measuring prosperity not solely by the accumulation of wealth among the affluent, but by ensuring that everyone, especially the less fortunate, has access to basic necessities. It encourages us to focus on addressing inequality and poverty as we build a more equitable and just society.

"It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

This quote suggests that investing in the education, care, and nurturing of children during their formative years is more beneficial than trying to fix or rehabilitate troubled adults. It implies that by fostering a healthy, secure, and supportive environment for children, we can help them develop into strong individuals who are capable of handling life's challenges effectively. In contrast, addressing the issues faced by damaged or broken adults requires significant effort and resources, which could have been prevented if the same care had been given to them during their childhood.

"Man is what he believes, and in believing he makes himself what he believes."

This quote suggests that our beliefs shape who we are as individuals. It emphasizes that the things we believe about ourselves, others, and the world have a profound impact on our actions, choices, and ultimately, our identity. By holding strong convictions, we are not just passive observers in life but active participants in shaping ourselves through our beliefs. This quote underscores the power of belief in determining one's character and destiny.

The Rosenberg case had been orchestrated to an anti-Communist frenzy that matched the exuberant hysteria of the Nazi horror.

- Howard Fast

Horror, Been, Frenzy, Hysteria

In L.A., you work like hell because there is nothing else to do, unless you're cheating on your wife.

- Howard Fast

Work, Like, Unless, Cheating

I was in federal prison in West Virginia for three months for contempt of Congress for a refusing to comply with a request of a Congressional committee of Congress, the House Un-American Activities Committee.

- Howard Fast

Request, Refusing, Months, Comply

I was part of a generation that believed in socialism and finally found that belief corroded and destroyed. That is not renouncing Communism or socialism. It's reaching a certain degree of enlightenment about what the Soviet Union practices.

- Howard Fast

Generation, Soviet Union, Practices

After the Spanish Civil War against Franco, a group of us got together: a group of well-to-do people who were sympathetic to the lost cause of a Republican state. We bought a convent in Toulouse and converted it into a hospital run by the Unitarians. It took care of the Spanish refugees who fled to Toulouse.

- Howard Fast

Sympathetic, Refugees, Converted

I was born and grew up in the greatest, the noblest achievement of the human race on this planet - which was called the United States of America.

- Howard Fast

Race, United States, Which, Noblest

The play is a marvelous form, but it demands less than a novel.

- Howard Fast

Play, Than, Form, Marvelous

Since I believe that a person's philosophical point of view has little meaning if it is not matched by being and action, I found myself willingly wed to an endless series of unpopular causes, experiences which I feel enriched my writing as much as they depleted other aspects of my life.

- Howard Fast

My Life, Other, Depleted, Willingly

A critic is a eunuch working in a harem. He watches it, but he knows he can't do it. Critics very often are failed writers and, like failed priests, they hate religion.

- Howard Fast

Watches, Like, Very, Priests

It's been said that I am the most widely read writer of the 20th century. The number of books I've sold runs into untold millions.

- Howard Fast

Been, Sold, Read, Runs

I'm disenchanted with Communism and most other things. I'm cynical but not a cynic. I'm cynical about TV, Congress, and commercial peanut butter.

- Howard Fast

Other, Commercial, TV, Cynic

I always thought that socialism here would be peculiarly American, with some reasonable, post-industrial evolution between working-class needs and market forces. It won't be bloody like the Russian Revolution.

- Howard Fast

Here, Always, Working-Class, Market Forces

Like most thoughtful people who watch what's going on in Washington, venting is very necessary.

- Howard Fast

Like, Necessary, Very, Thoughtful People

To be dogmatic about a cause you believe in at the age of 20 or 30 is not unusual. But to be dogmatic at age 55 or 60 shows a lack of any learning capacity.

- Howard Fast

About, Cause, Dogmatic, Unusual

My books were attacked constantly by the Communist Party for not hewing to the Party line. I have never hewed to a Party line of any kind.

- Howard Fast

Kind, Communist, Line, Communist Party

The only thing that infuriates me is that I have more unwritten stories in me than I can conceivably write in a lifetime.

- Howard Fast

More, Lifetime, Stories, Unwritten

Americans have no sense of history. And not much memory. They don't remember what happened yesterday.

- Howard Fast

Memory, Remember, Yesterday, No Sense

A man who will traduce those who stood with him in battle is not worth much.

- Howard Fast

Man, Battle, Will, Stood

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