Jesse Kellerman Quotes

Powerful Jesse Kellerman for Daily Growth

About Jesse Kellerman

Jesse Kellerman, born on March 7th, 1973, is an acclaimed American novelist, screenwriter, and attorney, renowned for his compelling narratives that blend elements of crime, suspense, and psychological drama. Born in New York City to the renowned novelist William Kellerman, Jesse's literary inclinations were fostered from a young age. However, he initially pursued a career in law, earning his JD from Harvard Law School. After working as an attorney for several years, Kellerman decided to follow his passion for writing and transitioned full-time into the literary world. Kellerman's debut novel, "The Execution of Noa P. Singleton," published in 2006, was a gripping tale of crime and retribution that showcased his unique storytelling abilities. The book was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author. His subsequent works, such as "Save Me" (2008), "Trust Exercise" (2011), and "You" (2014), further solidified his reputation as a master of psychological thrillers. Kellerman's ability to create complex characters and intricate plots has earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated readership. In addition to his novel writing, Kellerman has also written screenplays for movies like "The Groom's Story" (2015) and "Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain" (2019). His work often explores themes of deception, trust, and the human psyche, reflecting his background in law and psychology. Jesse Kellerman continues to be a prolific writer, contributing to both fiction and non-fiction genres. His unique narrative style and captivating storytelling make him a standout voice in contemporary literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is a series of decisions, not events."

This quote suggests that life is more about the choices we make than the circumstances we encounter. It underscores the idea that our lives are shaped significantly by the decisions we make in response to the events that occur. Essentially, it encourages us to recognize and embrace our power to decide the course of our lives.


"Happiness is not the absence of problems, it's the ability to deal with them."

This quote suggests that true happiness doesn't stem from a problem-free life, but rather from possessing the emotional strength and resilience to effectively manage challenges when they arise. In essence, it highlights the importance of coping mechanisms and a positive mindset in finding joy even amidst difficulties.


"The more you understand about who you are, the less you will live in fear."

This quote suggests that self-understanding can help reduce fear, as it allows individuals to recognize their strengths, weaknesses, and values, empowering them to face challenges with greater confidence and resilience. Fear often arises from a lack of understanding about ourselves, our abilities, or the world around us. By gaining insight into who we are, we can overcome this fear and live more authentic, fulfilling lives.


"In life, we all have choices to make, and sometimes those choices can be difficult. But remember: every decision leads you to another one."

This quote emphasizes the idea that life is a series of decisions and choices, each leading to new opportunities or outcomes. It suggests that while making choices may not always be easy, understanding this process can help us navigate our lives more effectively. The quote encourages resilience in the face of difficult decisions, implying that the path forward often lies in continuing to make informed choices. Ultimately, it underscores the idea that our actions and decisions shape our future experiences and growth.


"You can't control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens."

This quote emphasizes personal resilience and self-empowerment in the face of adversity or uncontrollable events. It suggests that while we cannot dictate our circumstances, we retain the ability to choose how we respond to them. This choice lies in our attitude, which can be determined by factors like optimism, positivity, gratitude, or determination. A constructive attitude can help us navigate through hardships, find opportunities amidst challenges, and ultimately lead to personal growth and resilience.


I think everyone assumes that I talk to my parents a lot about writing, but I didn't - they're my parents. We didn't have constant workshops running in my household.

- Jesse Kellerman

Think, Constant, I Think, Assumes

Naturally, it was easier for me to envision becoming a novelist than it is for most people. I had two great in-house teachers; I had parents who considered a career in the arts a real possibility rather than a dreamy arrow shot into the sky.

- Jesse Kellerman

Career, Becoming, Rather, Envision

It's always been a struggle to differentiate myself, but I like my parents. I enjoy doing events with them, and I don't feel I should purposely avoid something just for the sake of being different.

- Jesse Kellerman

Enjoy, Doing, Been, Being Different

Trying to catch hold of yourself is a fool's errand. There is no you, only a series of former yous, created in one instant, deleted in the next.

- Jesse Kellerman

Next, Created, Former, Errand

All my books deal with the effect of intent upon action, how our understanding of good and evil depends heavily on context.

- Jesse Kellerman

Depends, Deal, Intent, Context

Five people read my work before its ready for publication, and I solicit opinions from all of them: my wife, my agent, my editor, and my parents.

- Jesse Kellerman

Editor, Agent, Read, Publication

Crime novels have a clear beginning, middle, and end: a mystery, its investigation, and its resolution. The reader expects events to play out logically and efficiently, and these expectations force the writer to spend a good deal of time working on macrostructure rather than prettifying individual sentences.

- Jesse Kellerman

Beginning, Play, Deal, Expects

Science, literature, and common sense tell us that the self is a fickle thing, subject to revision in real time, and that the chasm that exists between any two people exists inside each and every one of us.

- Jesse Kellerman

Tell, Subject, Real Time, Common Sense

Aside from a brief stint as a writing tutor during graduate school, I have managed to avoid respectable employment all my adult life.

- Jesse Kellerman

Life, Brief, Respectable, Graduate School

Being a member of the Nintendo generation, I've got a really short attention span.

- Jesse Kellerman

Generation, Nintendo, Member, Attention Span

I remember my father banging away on an IBM Selectric in the garage. He wrote his first novels on that machine. I remember its pebbly surface, its cold heft. It made its mark, literally and violently.

- Jesse Kellerman

I Remember, Away, Violently, Banging

The mystery form was very helpful for me as a beginning writer because mystery novels and suspense novels have a beginning, a middle and an end.

- Jesse Kellerman

Mystery, Middle, Very, Novels

Tragedy without comedy is melodrama, and comedy without a higher purpose is vacant.

- Jesse Kellerman

Purpose, Comedy, Tragedy, Vacant

Writing is just something I've always done. It's just kind of the reality of who I am.

- Jesse Kellerman

Kind, Always, Am, Just Something

I ought to be more hardboiled; I'd like to be. I don't think I have it in me. To write in clipped sentences. To employ gritty metaphor in the introduction of sultry blondes... I can't do it, so why bother trying?

- Jesse Kellerman

Think, Employ, Gritty, Blondes

When I was four, we went to Oahu. It was the first time we celebrated Passover away from home.

- Jesse Kellerman

Home, Away, Four, Celebrated

The final product in a play is not just the written word. It's the production, the performance. The script is, of course, a very important piece; but it's only one element. Ultimately, yours is one of several voices. People can change your work in a play for better or worse.

- Jesse Kellerman

Play, Production, Very, Yours

People are interested in writing, and often there's an unjustifiable sense of people to believe my talking to them for the book is going to accord them any sort of fame. Which it won't. At the same time, they can be more circumspect if they know they're on the record.

- Jesse Kellerman

Book, Believe, Talking, Accord

There was a time, after I earned my graduate degree and before I sold my first novel, when it looked like I might have to get an office job.

- Jesse Kellerman

Before, Sold, Looked, Graduate

I don't intend to write the same kind of book for the rest of my life because I feel I would not be satisfied only writing in one mode.

- Jesse Kellerman

Rest, My Life, Kind, Intend

The most important lesson my parents taught me is that writing is a job, one that requires discipline and commitment. Most of the time it's a fun job, a wonderful job, but sometimes it isn't, and those are the days that test you.

- Jesse Kellerman

Discipline, Sometimes, Wonderful Job

All writers start out mimicking other writers. I've never relinquished that. I have a good ear for speech and writing patterns.

- Jesse Kellerman

Start, Patterns, Other, Relinquished

Art requires choices, the more specific, the better.

- Jesse Kellerman

Art, Better, More, Requires

It's impossible for me to disentangle how much of my storytelling urge is the product of growing up with novelist parents and how much is a genetic legacy from those same parents.

- Jesse Kellerman

Storytelling, Genetic, Novelist

We crime novelists have a great pulpit. We write about justice and about correcting injustice.

- Jesse Kellerman

Injustice, About, Novelists, Pulpit

In general, the human race is still a young organism.

- Jesse Kellerman

Race, General, Still, Human Race

I prefer to write about ordinary people who find themselves in a singularly bizarre situation - that is to say, the one moment in their lives when they are forced to confront danger or mystery.

- Jesse Kellerman

Bizarre, Prefer, Lives, Ordinary People

I used to live in New York, and I know a number of people who have friends who work at galleries. I spent time hanging out with them, going to openings. It was a good way to do research, to hang out and to look at the art that was present.

- Jesse Kellerman

Good, Used, Hang, Hanging

I had some trepidation about working with someone else, especially a family member. You don't want work to affect your personal relationship.

- Jesse Kellerman

Work, Some, Affect, Trepidation

It's not as though I decided to sit down and write a mystery novel so I could capitalize on my parents' success.

- Jesse Kellerman

Down, Could, Though, Capitalize

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