162 Quotes by E. L. Doctorow

Satire's nature is to be one-sided, contemptuous of ambiguity, and so unfairly selective as to find in the purity of ridicule an inarguable moral truth.

[Freud] "sat in his quiet cozy study in Vienna, glad to be back. He said to Ernest Jones, America is a mistake, a gigantic mistake.” Ragtime

The historian will tell you what happened. The Novelist will tell you what it felt like."And the historical fiction writer does both!

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.

These officials changed names they couldn’t pronounce and tore people from their families, consigning to a return voyage old folks, people with bad eyes, riffraff and also those who looked insolent. Such power was dazzling. The immigrants were reminded of home. ” Ragtime

A book is not complete until it’s read

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.

Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing.