What quotes inspire your writing?

[therosesword]

I have three favorites that I actually forget word for word but follow. They're all from David Bowie (the first two I looked up so they are the true quote:

"I'm just an individual who doesn't feel I need to have somebody qualify my work in any particular way. I'm working for me."

"All my big mistakes are when I try to second-guess or please an audience. My work is always stronger when I get very selfish about it."

and one that I can't find the proper words for is that an artist should get out of their comfort zone and try something new where this is no safety net.

At some point in my writing life I took all of these to heart. I think it's why I'm a lousy chess player, just when things are going well I can't resist moving a piece "just to see what happens."

What are some of your favorite quotes that inspire you to keep going?

Write hard, write true.

[cookieroach]

There's one quote I remind myself of when I'm lazy or afraid of trying something and failing:

"There is no risk in doing certain things. The irony is, in the long term, you’ve gambled away everything."

If you put off things for too long, wait until the "right moment" or choose the safe route, you'll end up wasting your life.

(I don't remember where I read it, but it's from a book.)

[therosesword]

If you put off things for too long, wait until the "right moment" or choose the safe route, you'll end up wasting your life.

Excellent point! Sometimes when I'm worried about taking a risk with my writing I think... what will happen? I'm in my home, on my computer. No one will read it if I don't like it. Why not risk it? No one is going to come to my home and cut my hands off for typing something. And waiting for the right moment... what is the right moment? How do you know? Will you ever know? I guess there's a lot to be said for that old cliche: Better now than never.

It's a great quote. Thank you.

[paracosmosfiction]

There's a Mark Twain quote I really love that's been a huge inspiration for my writing style.

"Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn't."

I've always been inspired by his work in particular. Given the extremely personal relationship I have with my writing, I always try to emulate his philosophy whenever I work on a new project. For as wild as our fantasies may be, they are but a reflection of the nature of our own souls. A canvas by which we project the paint of our imagination. I've always had an imagination similar to Mark Twain's. And I promise I'm not trying to sound like a braggart with that statement. Because unlike him, I never really did anything with my imagination. Nothing constructive anyway.

But now I am. Or at least I'm trying to. That quote is one of the things that sticks with me whenever I start working again.

[therosesword]

I've always had an imagination similar to Mark Twain's. And I promise I'm not trying to sound like a braggart with that statement.

I don't think it's bragging when someone finds they have something in common with someone else, such as thought process etc. and remarks on it.

Also, I've seen that quote before and it's definitely a good one.
Funny story: My ex was related to Twain. I've heard him mutter "no, he didn't say that" because of stories that came through the family more times than I can count. He never said that about this quote.

Write hard, write true.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Oh fun. I'll be honest none of my quotes are from authors though. Unless you consider vocalists who write their own lyrics to songs as authors.

Most of these following quotes have to do with being self motivated.

You're just sliding painfully back
If you're not striving forward
-Own Your World, by Hatebreed, lyrics by Jamie Jasta

No sleep, no rest, do anything it takes to be the best. No sleep no rest, must stay driven I can't relent
-Looking down the Barrel of Today, by Hatebreed, lyrics by Jamie Jasta

I used to be really lazy when it came to forward progress on my work. I absolutely have to surround myself with things that make me want to keep pushing on. Jamie Jasta's lyrics in most of his songs are about becoming better, or rising above adversity. They really resonate with me, and I could probably drop several more, but I'll spare you all.

[therosesword]

I don't think quotes have to be from other authors. Mine are from David Bowie.

[linaket]

“The final effort for these related minds, creator or conqueror, is to manage to free themselves also from their undertakings: succeed in granting that the very work, whether it be conquest, love, or creation, may well not be; consummate thus the utter futility of any indi­vidual life. Indeed, that gives them more freedom in the realization of that work, just as becoming aware of the absurdity of life authorized them to plunge into it with every excess. All that remains is a fate whose outcome alone is fatal. Outside of that single fatality of death, everything, joy or happiness, is liberty. A world remains of which man is the sole master."

Albert Camus

I wouldn't say it necessarily directly inspires my work itself (I do have just a touch of absurd philosophy driving a few of the characters) but it sure as heck inspires me to get up and write.

[therosesword]

LOL.

All that remains is a fate whose outcome alone is fatal.

I like my forensics prof's way of putting it: From the moment of conception you're on a trajectory towards death... so do something with your life.

[kmlangleyauthor]

So, there’s a whole story behind this one my family used to play a game and sometimes often my dad would get a ton of tiles without being able to play (due to first-play points rules), but he when he could play, he could usually empty his board, thus winning the round. Much to my mother's disdain, he’d always say, “it’s like eating 2 lbs of Oreos - they all have to come out some time.” So, in reference to writing, when I’m really struggling, I try to read, read, read everything because, once you put so many words in, they have to come out somehow

Another is, “You’re allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously.” And I really like how that applies to myself as well as my writing/art/creativity

[rajillustration]

One of my favorite quotes on writing (or any art creative work) is Terry Pratchett (who was my favorite author growing up, I read...all of his books) who said something on the lines of "if you trust in yourself...and believe in your dreams...and follow your star...you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard, and learning things, and weren't so lazy."

because...it's a job. And like part of growing up is learning that jobs aren't always so glamorous, and even things we may be doing for fun are still...a form of working. So like...sometimes I need to just get over myself, set a timer, and get back to work until the timer goes out. If I'm sitting there waiting for a sign, if I'm waiting for my stroke of genius, if I'm hoping my first book I ever write will launch me to millionairedom, it will never come, you just gotta put your ass in your working chair and create your stories or your art or whatever it is that you're making, until you're good.

[RyzaCobalion]

"I don't use drugs, my dreams are frightening enough"

A disturbing quote my one of my favorite artist, MC Escher. Which in a weird and twisted way inspired to use my own imagination as key inspiration for my writing and drawing.