13 Notable Quotes By Anatole Broyard, The Author Of Intoxicated By My Illness

Famous As: Writer

Born On: 1920

Died On: 1990

Born In: New Orleans, Louisiana

Died At Age: 70

The famous American writer Anatole Broyard was respected as a literary critic, teacher, and editor. During his early days, he dropped out of school and did some petty jobs before joining the army during the Second World War. After completing his service he decided to quench his aspiration of becoming a writer. He opened a bookstore where he stocked books of modernist writers that he liked and this helped him get in touch with like-minded people. He soon started writing stories for various renowned magazines which were well-received by the masses. He further wrote articles for various magazines before joining ‘New York Times’ as a columnist. There, his essays were critically appreciated and brought him great fame and popularity while establishing his reputation as a book critic. The columns that he wrote have been the most notable works of his life and have been collected in a book titled ‘Men, Women and Anti-Climaxes’. He even wrote his autobiography titled ‘Men, Women and Anti-Climaxes’ which was unfortunately published after his death and it turned out to be a huge success. He remained in controversy all through his life for proclaiming to be white while he was of mixed race. He had described his complex racial identity in his article titled ‘Portrait of the Inauthentic Negro’. He shared his thoughts and views on several subjects through his writings and characters of his books. His thoughts are quoted extensively and you can find them at severalplaces on internet and social media. We bring to you a compilation of Anatole Broyard’s quotations and sayings which have been scanned from his vast sea of work.

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The contents of someone's bookcase are part of his history, like an ancestral portrait.

The contents of someone's bookcase are part of his history, like an ancestral portrait." (About Books; Recoiling, Rereading, Retelling, New York Times, February 22, 1987)
Like History
Anatole Broyard

Two people making love, she once said, are like one drowned person resuscitating the other.

Two people making love, she once said, are like one drowned person resuscitating the other.
Love Like
Anatole Broyard

There was a time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.

There was a time when we expected nothing of our children but obedience, as opposed to the present, when we expect everything of them but obedience.
Time Children
Anatole Broyard

A book is meant not only to be read, but to haunt you, to importune you like a lover or a parent, to be in your teeth like a piece of gristle.

A book is meant not only to be read, but to haunt you, to importune you like a lover or a parent, to be in your teeth like a piece of gristle.
You Like
Anatole Broyard

The moment a book is lent I begin to miss it.

The moment a book is lent I begin to miss it.
I
Anatole Broyard

I feel about lending a book the way most fathers feel about their daughters living with a man out of wedlock.

I feel about lending a book the way most fathers feel about their daughters living with a man out of wedlock.
Living I
Anatole Broyard

If a book is really good, it deserves to be read again, and if it's great, it should be read at least three times.

If a book is really good, it deserves to be read again, and if it's great, it should be read at least three times.
Anatole Broyard

The contents of someone's bookcase are part of his history, like an ancestral portrait.
Like History
Anatole Broyard

Paranoids are the only ones who notice things anymore.

Paranoids are the only ones who notice things anymore.
Anatole Broyard

When we were in bed, the only part of me she touched was my penis, because it was the most detached.

When we were in bed, the only part of me she touched was my penis, because it was the most detached.
Me
Anatole Broyard

The thought of people reading in the sun, on a beach, tempts me to recommend dark books, written in the shadow of loneliness, despair, and death. Let these revelers feel a chill as they loll on their towels.

The thought of people reading in the sun, on a beach, tempts me to recommend dark books, written in the shadow of loneliness, despair, and death. Let these revelers feel a chill as they loll on their towels.
Me Death Books
Anatole Broyard