365 Quotes by J. D. Salinger

I don't even like old cars. I'd rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God's sake.

But I do say that educated and scholarly men, if they’re brilliant and creative to begin with—which, unfortunately, is rarely the case—tend to leave infinitely more valuable records behind them than men do who are merely brilliant and creative. They tend to express themselves more clearly, and they usually have a passion for following their thoughts through to the end.

But it wasn't just that he was the most intelligent member in the family. He was also the nicest, in lots of ways. He never got mad at anybody. People with red hair are supposed to get mad very easily, but Allie never did, and he had very red hair.

I ignored the flashes of lightning all around me. They either had your number on them or they didn't.

I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.

If you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry.

Always, always, always referring every goddam thing that happens right back to our lousy little egos.

Poets are always taking the weather so personally. They're always sticking their emotions in things that have no emotions.

All mothers are slightly insane...