Matthew Reilly Quotes

Powerful Matthew Reilly for Daily Growth

About Matthew Reilly

Matthew Reilly, a renowned Australian author, was born on October 31, 1974, in Sydney, Australia. His passion for storytelling and adventure began at an early age, fueled by his love for cinema, literature, and video games. Reilly's writing career took off in 1996 when he self-published his debut novel, "Contest," while still a student at the University of Sydney. The book was later re-released as "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series by Penguin Books. However, it was Reilly's next work, "The Seven Ancient Wonders," published in 1999, that catapulted him into international fame. This thrilling adventure novel introduced readers to his signature style of blending historical facts with fast-paced action and intricate plots. Reilly's major works include the "Scarecrow" series, featuring the protagonist Jack West Jr., who is tasked with saving the world from impending disasters based on ancient prophecies. The series includes "The Six Sacred Stones," "The Five Greatest Warriors," and "The Fourth Kingdom." Another notable series is the "Jack West Jr.: Chronicles of the Apocalypse" trilogy, comprising "The Great Zoo of China," "The Eye of Olympus," and "The Secret Rise and Fall of Atlantis." These books delve into mythology, archaeology, and high-stakes adventure. Reilly's influences are diverse, ranging from Edgar Rice Burroughs to Michael Crichton, Steven Spielberg to James Cameron. His works have been translated into over 20 languages, making him a globally recognized author. Despite his success, Reilly remains humble and dedicated to his craft, continually pushing the boundaries of adventure storytelling.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Fear is the enemy, fear is the mind-killer."

The quote suggests that fear, not any external force, is a major obstacle to mental growth and personal achievement. It implies that when we allow fear to dominate our thoughts and actions, it can inhibit us from realizing our full potential. By recognizing fear as an enemy and viewing it as the "mind-killer", one can strive to overcome it and push beyond their perceived limitations. This quote encourages individuals to confront their fears head-on and to let courage rather than apprehension guide them towards personal and professional success.


"There's a difference between fear and respect. Fear paralyzes; respect drives you forward."

This quote emphasizes the contrast between fear and respect, suggesting that while fear is debilitating and immobilizing, respect provides motivation to move forward. It implies that acknowledging the power or potential danger of something or someone should not prevent us from acting, but rather inspire action based on understanding and admiration. Instead of freezing in fear, one should be driven by a sense of respect to take calculated risks and face challenges head-on.


"Sometimes to save the world you have to destroy it."

This quote suggests a paradoxical scenario where an action that appears destructive is necessary for the preservation or salvation of the world. It implies a profound dilemma, where one must be willing to bring about temporary chaos or devastation to ultimately restore peace or stability on a larger scale. The message could also be interpreted as a call to embrace radical change in order to achieve long-term positive outcomes.


"The truth is rarely simple."

This quote suggests that reality, or "the truth," often isn't straightforward or easily understood. Complexities, ambiguities, and nuances are common aspects of the world we live in. It encourages us to delve deeper, question more, and be patient in our pursuit of knowledge and understanding.


"Adventure calls, action answers."

This quote by Matthew Reilly signifies a readiness to respond to the call for excitement, challenge, or unknown experiences that adventure often presents. It suggests that when the opportunity for adventure arises, one should not hesitate but instead act boldly and courageously. The phrase "action answers" implies that in the face of adventure, there is no room for indecision or fear; instead, a swift and energetic response is needed to seize the moment and embrace what lies ahead.


In 'Seven Ancient Wonders,' Jack West and his team break someone out of Guantanamo Bay. I'm not going to preach to people and say, 'Guantanamo Bay, bad', but I will have my hero go and break somebody out of it, and maybe people will think about it that way.

- Matthew Reilly

Bad, Maybe, About, Bay

I wasn't one of those kids who dreamed of writing novels when I was 8 or 12. I wanted to be a film director. I wanted to make big action movies. I loved movies like 'Die Hard,' 'Predator,' 'Aliens,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.'

- Matthew Reilly

Die, Movies, Big, Novels

When I started writing, I was reading people such as Tom Clancy or Michael Crichton, who did 'Jurassic Park,' which is possibly the most action-filled book you'll read, apart from mine, and I said to myself, 'Why aren't these guys doing big-scale action like you would see in a movie?'

- Matthew Reilly

Book, Doing, Movie, Possibly

I imagine I'm a very unusual guy to date. You know, I've got toys on the shelves, and I've got the cars.

- Matthew Reilly

Date, Very, Imagine, Shelves

My first book, 'Contest,' had a guy fighting aliens in the New York Public Library. The second book, 'Ice Station,' and 'Temple' were present-day military thrillers.

- Matthew Reilly

New, Contest, Present-Day, Public Library

What I do is write books for an audience that thinks in a movie language. That's the way I think, and I also believe that not enough authors keep up with the audience.

- Matthew Reilly

Think, Audience, I Think, Authors

I write about all manner of things: a guy fighting aliens in the New York State Library, Antarctica, Inca civilization in Peru, the Great Pyramid at Giza, and people often ask me, where do I get these ideas from? They come from reading widely, watching a lot of documentaries, and increasingly ,as I was able to, travelling around the world.

- Matthew Reilly

Civilization, Increasingly, Documentaries

Fantasy enabled me to break the shackles and create a whole new level of 'the world is in danger' stakes.

- Matthew Reilly

New, Fantasy, New Level, Stakes

I've been around long enough now that people who don't get into the outrageousness, the over-the-top stuff, they know not to buy my books anymore.

- Matthew Reilly

Enough, Been, Buy, Over-The-Top

I think 'The Time Traveler's Wife' is one of the most brilliantly marketed books I have ever seen.

- Matthew Reilly

Think, I Think, Traveler, Brilliantly

Zoos have always fascinated me. What child hasn't wondered what would happen if all the animals escaped from the zoo? Or what would happen if they got caught in an enclosure?

- Matthew Reilly

Happen, Always, Caught, Escaped

I read 'The Hobbit' only when I was an adult. I had a lot of friends, teenagers, who discovered reading through 'The Hobbit,' but it wasn't something that I discovered until later in life.

- Matthew Reilly

Through, Discovered, Read, Teenagers

I'm very good at plot.

- Matthew Reilly

Good, Very, Plot

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