NICHOLSON BAKER QUOTES III

American writer (1957- )

The neurons that do expire are the ones that made imitation possible. When you are capable of skillful imitation, the sweep of choices before you is too large; but when your brain loses its spare capacity, and along with it some agility, some joy in winging it, and the ambition to do things that don't suit it, then you finally have to settle down to do well the few things that your brain really can do well--the rest no longer seems pressing and distracting, because it is now permanently out of reach.

NICHOLSON BAKER

The Mezzanine


I woke up thinking a very pleasant thought. There is lots left in the world to read.

NICHOLSON BAKER

The Anthologist

Tags: reading


Why are things beautiful? I don't know. That's a good question. Isn't it pleasing when you ask a question of a person, a teacher, or a speaker, and he or she says, That's a good question? Don't you feel good when that happens?

NICHOLSON BAKER

A Box of Matches

Tags: questions