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Sherman Alexie Quotes

100 Great Sherman Alexie Quotes That You Must Know

Famous As: Novelist

Born On: 1966

Born In: Spokane

Founder / Co Founder: Longhouse Media

Age: 58 Years

Sherman Alexie is an acclaimed author popular for writing in the genre of Native American literature. He faced a lot of medical problems since childhood and was feared to suffer from mental disabilities all through his life. His father was an alcoholic and his mother had to work hard to pay for his expensive medications. Initially, he was interested in becoming a doctor but his passion for writing turned him to creative writing. He started off his literary career by publishing his first collection of poetry titled ‘The Business of Fancydancing: Stories and Poems’. This was followed by three more successful poetry collections which were highly influenced by his experiences with the Natives. He then came up with his first work of prose called ‘The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven’ which was a collection of twenty interconnected short stories. This turned out to be one of the most notable works of his career and also marked the beginning of his successful career. This encouraged him to further write various novels starting with ‘Reservation Blues’ to prove his prominence in the literary world. He describes the oppressions faced by the natives through his works in a very humorous way. Go through the quotes and sayings by this great writer which will enlighten you about life. Have a look at the notable quotations and thoughts by Sherman Alexie on imagination, kissing, lovers, addiction, boredom and necessity.

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If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing.

If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing.
You Life
Sherman Alexie

He loved her, of course, but better than that, he chose her, day after day. Choice: that was the thing.

He loved her, of course, but better than that, he chose her, day after day. Choice: that was the thing.
Sherman Alexie

Life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community.

Life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community.
Life
Sherman Alexie

Poetry = Anger x Imagination
Sherman Alexie

If you're good at it, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the river of the world, then it can't be wrong.

If you're good at it, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the river of the world, then it can't be wrong.
You Love
Sherman Alexie

I think all of us are always five years old in the presence and absence of our parents.

I think all of us are always five years old in the presence and absence of our parents.
Think I
Sherman Alexie

Poverty doesn’t give you strength or teach you lessons about perseverance. No, poverty only teaches you how to be poor.

Poverty doesn’t give you strength or teach you lessons about perseverance. No, poverty only teaches you how to be poor.
You
Sherman Alexie

The world, even the smallest parts of it, is filled with things you don't know.

The world, even the smallest parts of it, is filled with things you don't know.
You
Sherman Alexie

We all have to find our own ways to say good-bye.

We all have to find our own ways to say good-bye.
Sherman Alexie

There are all kinds of addicts, I guess. We all have pain. And we all look for ways to make the pain go away. (107)

There are all kinds of addicts, I guess. We all have pain. And we all look for ways to make the pain go away. (107)
I
Sherman Alexie

What kind of life can you have in a house without books?

What kind of life can you have in a house without books?
You Life Books
Sherman Alexie

If you care about something enough, it’s going to make you cry. But you have to use it. Use your tears. Use your pain. Use your fear. Get mad. Arnold, get mad.

If you care about something enough, it’s going to make you cry. But you have to use it. Use your tears. Use your pain. Use your fear. Get mad. Arnold, get mad.
You Fear
Sherman Alexie

Do you know why the Indian rain dances always worked? Because the Indians would keep dancing until it rained.

Do you know why the Indian rain dances always worked? Because the Indians would keep dancing until it rained.
You
Sherman Alexie

If one reads enough books one has a fighting chance. Or better, one's chances of survival increase with each book one reads.

If one reads enough books one has a fighting chance. Or better, one's chances of survival increase with each book one reads.
Books
Sherman Alexie

That's right, I am a book kisser.
I
Sherman Alexie

I was studying the sky like I was an astronomer, except it was daytime and I didn't have a telescope, so I was just an idiot.

I was studying the sky like I was an astronomer, except it was daytime and I didn't have a telescope, so I was just an idiot.
Like I
Sherman Alexie

I suddenly understood that if every moment of a book should be taken seriously, then every moment of a life should be taken seriously as well.

I suddenly understood that if every moment of a book should be taken seriously, then every moment of a life should be taken seriously as well.
Life I
Sherman Alexie

Nervous means you want to play. Scared means you don't want to play.

Nervous means you want to play. Scared means you don't want to play.
You
Sherman Alexie

She wanted to be buried in a coffin filled with used paperbacks.

She wanted to be buried in a coffin filled with used paperbacks.
Sherman Alexie

We're all travelling heavy with illusions.

We're all travelling heavy with illusions.
Sherman Alexie

You have to love somebody that much to also hate them that much, too. (191)

You have to love somebody that much to also hate them that much, too. (191)
You Love
Sherman Alexie

I've learned that the worst thing a parent can do is ignore their children

I've learned that the worst thing a parent can do is ignore their children
Children
Sherman Alexie

Drinking would shut down my seeing and my hearing and my feeling,' she used to say. 'Why would I want to be in the world if I couldn't touch the world with all of my senses intact?

Drinking would shut down my seeing and my hearing and my feeling,' she used to say. 'Why would I want to be in the world if I couldn't touch the world with all of my senses intact?
I
Sherman Alexie

Read. Read 1000 pages for every 1 page that you write.

Read. Read 1000 pages for every 1 page that you write.
You
Sherman Alexie

Coach said. "the quality of a man's life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his chosen field of endeavor".
Life
Sherman Alexie

I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats.

I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats.
Think I
Sherman Alexie

If it's fiction, then it better be true.

If it's fiction, then it better be true.
Sherman Alexie

I learned how to stop crying.
I learned how to hide inside of myself.
I learned how to be somebody else.
I learned how to be cold and numb.

I learned how to stop crying. I learned how to hide inside of myself. I learned how to be somebody else. I learned how to be cold and numb.
I
Sherman Alexie

I didn't know what to say to her. What do you say to people when they ask how it feels to lose everything? When every planet in your solar system has exploded?

I didn't know what to say to her. What do you say to people when they ask how it feels to lose everything? When every planet in your solar system has exploded?
You I
Sherman Alexie

Your past is a skeleton walking one step behind you, and your future is a a skeleton walking one step in front of you. Maybe you don't wear a watch, but your skeletons do, and they always know what time it is.

Your past is a skeleton walking one step behind you, and your future is a a skeleton walking one step in front of you. Maybe you don't wear a watch, but your skeletons do, and they always know what time it is.
You Future Past Time
Sherman Alexie