Joshua Ferris Quotes

Powerful Joshua Ferris for Daily Growth

About Joshua Ferris

Joshua Ferris, born on February 15, 1974, in Buffalo, New York, is an acclaimed American novelist known for his witty, introspective, and poignant narratives that delve into the human condition. After graduating from Colgate University with a degree in English Literature, Ferris worked as a copywriter in advertising, a career he found unfulfilling. His creative urge led him to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Ferris' literary journey began in 2007 with his debut novel, "Then We Came to the End," a satirical exploration of office life that was met with critical acclaim and multiple awards, including the Guardian First Book Award. The book's unique narrative style, using the collective first-person perspective, showcased Ferris' innovative storytelling techniques. His second novel, "The Unnamed," published in 2010, tells the story of a man struggling with an uncontrollable compulsion to walk, exploring themes of identity, love, and family. The book was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award. Ferris' third novel, "To Rise Again at a Decent Hour," published in 2013, is a tale of identity, faith, and technology. The story revolves around a dentist who wakes up to find that someone has created a website in his name. This novel was a finalist for the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Joshua Ferris' works are often characterized by their insightful portrayal of modern life, complex characters, and thought-provoking narratives. He continues to captivate readers with his unique storytelling abilities and deep insights into the human experience.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is short and so am I."

This quote suggests a sense of profound awareness about the fleeting nature of life, mirrored by the speaker's own physical brevity. It implies that due to the transient state of existence, one should prioritize their time wisely and make meaningful impacts in their brief sojourn on earth.


"Happiness is not an ideal you pursue, it's a byproduct of living."

Joshua Ferris suggests that happiness isn't something we strive for as a goal or end state, but rather it's an unintended consequence of living a fulfilling life. Instead of constantly chasing after happiness, one should focus on experiencing life to its fullest – engaging in activities, relationships, and pursuits that bring meaning and purpose, and the experience of joy and contentment will naturally follow as a byproduct.


"The opposite of love is indifference, and the opposite of happiness is the absence of whatever it is that makes you feel happy."

This quote suggests that true indifference, or lack of concern, is the polar opposite of love because love involves caring deeply for someone or something. Similarly, whatever specific elements contribute to an individual's happiness are essential for their well-being; thus, the absence of those elements leads to unhappiness. In essence, Joshua Ferris emphasizes that neglecting connections and not addressing what brings joy can lead to emotional disconnection and sadness.


"We are most alive when we're in love."

This quote suggests that a profound sense of aliveness, vitality, or being fully awake to life, is often experienced when one is deeply in love. Love, in this context, may refer to romantic, platonic, or self-love, but it signifies an intense connection that evokes heightened emotions and awareness. The implication is that such strong emotional bonds can stir our deepest passions, ignite our senses, and make us more acutely aware of the beauty and richness of life itself.


"When we don't know who we are, we're a creature full of potential, a work-in-progress, a being with the power to change our lives and the world."

This quote emphasizes the idea that self-discovery is an ongoing process, a journey of personal growth. It suggests that when we're uncertain about our identity, we hold vast potential for transformation, both personally and collectively. It encourages us to embrace this period of exploration, recognizing that our actions can shape not only our lives but also the world around us. In essence, it conveys the empowering notion that each of us has the capacity to grow and make a difference.


After I left college I thought, very naively, that either you became someone interesting - an artist - or you went into academia. If you ended up in an office you were dull and lacking. And I ended up in an office.

- Joshua Ferris

College, Very, Became, Lacking

I don't write directly on to the computer because I don't think well facing forward with fingers on a keyboard. I think better looking down holding a pen. And the concentration quotient of pen and paper is higher than when I'm moving words around on screen.

- Joshua Ferris

I Think, Better Looking, Directly

The main questions of everyday life are too enormous to answer in any definitive sense.

- Joshua Ferris

Questions, Answer, Too, Definitive

Everyone desires relationships and community. Most people want to belong to a cohesive, like-minded group. It staves off loneliness. It promotes identity. These are natural and very human instincts.

- Joshua Ferris

Natural, Belong, Very, Instincts

Without work, so much of one's identity just evaporates.

- Joshua Ferris

Work, Identity, Just, Evaporates

I come from a very illustrious line of divorces. We love to get divorced in my family. My mother and father have been married four times each - eight ceremonies with the best of intentions.

- Joshua Ferris

Love, Mother And Father, Divorced

I think it's a very bad idea for someone to start writing for a readership.

- Joshua Ferris

Think, I Think, Very, Bad Idea

I believe people think as a group more often than we might realize or care to admit. We like to believe that we act as individuals and nothing more, but time and again - in corporations and business, in politics and religion, in fashion and culture, and in friendships and social circles - we think and do as one.

- Joshua Ferris

Politics, Believe, Circles, Corporations

Every time you hear someone read your book and liked your book, you're never sure whether that's going to follow with a similar remark from someone else. Perhaps I have low expectations, but whenever I hear someone say, 'I liked your book,' I don't know if it's going to happen again.

- Joshua Ferris

Book, Your, Remark, Low Expectations

The office is a romantic enabler because you're always around the person you have a crush on. There's no escape from, and maybe no desire to escape from, those pressure-cooker conditions. And there's an automatic series of things you have to talk about all the time.

- Joshua Ferris

Office, Maybe, About, Escape

My first job is to write a book that I believe is compelling and deserves the long sustained attention that any novel requires, and to worry about the commerce only late in the game.

- Joshua Ferris

Game, Worry, Compelling, First Job

I have never stopped considering not becoming a writer.

- Joshua Ferris

Never, Becoming, Stopped, Considering

I've always thought things were absurd. It would take a lot more effort for me to see things as reasonable.

- Joshua Ferris

Thought, More, Always, Absurd

One thing that I discovered about myself is I really don't like traveling. I feel like it's a terrible personal failing, but I was so satisfied to arrive at the conclusion.

- Joshua Ferris

Satisfied, Like, Discovered, Arrive

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.