Maxwell Perkins Quotes

Editors are extremely fallible people, all of them. Don't put too much trust in them.

It is those people who know that they are right because some outside or higher power conveys the conviction to them who do the great damage in the world.

You can’t know a book until you come to the end of it, and then all the rest must be modified to fit that.

Every good thing that comes is accompanied by trouble.

Learn about writing from reading. That is the right way to do it.

Writing, like drawing is an art, and whatever conveys the meaning is justified.

What we publishers think is that our function is to bring everything out into the open, on the theory that we have an adult population that knows values, or can learn them, and let them decide.

The book belongs to the author.

You are all right on time, except for the fact that time is the enemy of us all, and especially of the writer.

I do not think anyone can read War and Peace too much. I read it six times.

You have to throw yourself away when you write.

I believe the writer... should always be the final judge. I have always held to that position and have sometimes seen books hurt thereby, but at least as often helped. The book belongs to the author.

Of the whole public not a handful can understand the artist's point of view or the writer's conscience.

I do not think you should read about writing while you are writing.

For real self esteem is not derived from the great things you've done, the things you won. The mark you've made - but an appreciation of yourself for what you are.

I believe the writer... should always be the final judge. I have always held to that position and have sometimes seen books hurt thereby but at least as often helped. The book belongs to the author.

Just get it down on paper and then we'll see what to do with it.

Just get it down on paper, and then we’ll see what to do with it.