John Crowley Quotes

Powerful John Crowley for Daily Growth

About John Crowley

John Crowley, an acclaimed American writer born in 1942, is renowned for his richly imaginative and intricately plotted novels that seamlessly blend fantasy with historical detail. Raised in Providence, Rhode Island, Crowley's fascination with literature and mythology was nurtured early, fueled by his family's collection of fairy tales and the enchanting cityscape that reflected the classic Gilded Age architecture. After studying English at Brown University, Crowley embarked on a career in journalism, working as an editor for the New York Times Book Review. This professional path allowed him to engage with influential authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Ursula K. Le Guin, whose works significantly impacted his own literary journey. In 1981, Crowley published his debut novel, "Little, Big," a masterful blend of fantasy and reality that follows the lives of a mystical family living in a Fairyland-like hotel. This unique work solidified his reputation as a groundbreaking storyteller within the genre. Subsequent novels like "Engine Summer" (1979) and "The Solitudes" (1984) continued to showcase Crowley's captivating narrative abilities, with each title further expanding his thematic exploration of time, memory, and the interconnectedness of all things. John Crowley continues to write today, captivating readers with his imaginative tales that bridge the gap between reality and fantasy. His body of work serves as a testament to the power of storytelling in transcending boundaries and exploring the depths of human experience.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The real world is always more strange than the imagined."

This quote by John Crowley highlights that our real-life experiences, the "real world," are often stranger and more unexpected than what we imagine or envision. It suggests a reminder to stay open-minded about the surprises and mysteries life presents, as reality frequently exceeds our imaginative abilities in terms of its complexity and uniqueness.


"Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible but it can be felt. The effects of love are like that of the wind – you cannot see it, but you can feel it."

John Crowley's quote highlights the profound impact and indiscernible nature of love. Despite being intangible, love has a tangible effect on individuals and the world around them. Like the wind, its presence may not be visible to the eye, but it can be felt through its comforting, powerful, and sometimes turbulent influence. This quote emphasizes that love, though invisible, is a force more potent than any other, shaping lives and landscapes in unique ways.


"The heart knows many things that the mind remains ignorant of."

This quote suggests that there are emotions, intuitions, and feelings that our conscious minds may not fully comprehend or understand. The heart in this context symbolizes the seat of our deepest emotions and empathy. The mind, on the other hand, represents our logical, rational faculties. This quote encourages us to trust our instincts and emotions, as they can often provide valuable insights that reason alone may overlook. In essence, it underscores the importance of emotional intelligence in addition to intellectual prowess.


"In art, as in life, we stumble upon truths, not by direct inquiry, but by accident and serendipity."

This quote suggests that discovery and understanding in both art and life often occur through unexpected or unintentional encounters rather than through a deliberate and systematic search for the truth. The idea is that by being open to the world around us, we may stumble upon profound insights or truths that we would not have found if we had approached the situation with a preconceived notion or plan. It emphasizes the value of curiosity, serendipity, and openness in our pursuit of knowledge and understanding.


"Love is like a wild beast; it has to be tamed with tenderness, understanding, and patience."

This quote by John Crowley suggests that love, much like a wild animal, can be unpredictable and potentially harmful if not handled properly. To harness its power positively, it requires tender care, deep understanding, and persistent patience. In other words, to make love beneficial and fulfilling in relationships, one must approach it with compassion, empathy, and persistence, much like how one would tame a wild beast.


I had very clever producers, who scheduled it brilliantly, but scheduling it was a nightmare.

- John Crowley

Clever, Very, Had, Scheduling

But I'm very happy to work within tight parameters, and when you know you have an actor for two days, and you have to get that work done in two days, that focuses the mind wonderfully.

- John Crowley

Mind, Within, Very, Parameters

The bottom line is, it's a great script and that's very inspiring and makes you want to overcome whatever technical difficulties you come up against.

- John Crowley

Bottom, Very, Technical, Great Script

I write in expectation that readers want to participate in a kind of two-sided game: They are trying to guess what I am up to - what the story's up to - and I'm giving them clues and matter to keep them interested without giving everything away at the start. Even the rules, if any, of the game are for the reader to discover.

- John Crowley

Game, Away, I Write, Clues

Men tend to try to struggle to be more rational and reduce things to simplicity more and are more impatient with ambiguity than women are.

- John Crowley

More, Impatient, Reduce, Rational

Realistic novels simply pretend that the rules of their invented worlds are identical to the rules of actual life, but that's a ruse.

- John Crowley

Rules, Actual, Worlds, Invented

Fundamentally, whether directing in the theatre or a film, you have to be a good storyteller, regardless of the form. The thing I had to work hardest at was thinking in shots.

- John Crowley

Work, Storyteller, Had, Directing

Certainly it's very difficult to keep momentum going through a film which has as many characters as this does, and the piece took on a life of its own to try and shape it. That took all the time we had in editing.

- John Crowley

Through, Which, Certainly, Editing

I've always had a compassion for characters in novels - the sense that they are, whatever they might think, living in a world that has a shape they don't know and can't finally alter.

- John Crowley

Think, Living, Always, Alter

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