Donald Ray Pollock Quotes

I find writing the darker side, writing tragedy, a lot easier than writing happiness. Happiness is just less psychologically compelling, isn't it?

Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.

Fiction is about stuff that's screwed up.

Any great movie you watch has some element of darkness or loss or some suffering in it. That's what makes the fun parts fun.

It's very hard to write about that which is always beautiful and pleasant and good. You don't get anywhere with it. There's no friction in it. There's no trouble. You have to have trouble. Somebody's got to get in trouble, or no one wants to read it.

Properly speaking, history is nothing but the crimes and misfortunes of the human race.

I write plays about big, intense subjects.

Sex: the thing that takes up the least amount of time and causes the most amount of trouble.

It's really a lot easier to write about things that are problematic. Who wants to hear how happy you are?

The evils of mortals are manifold; nowhere is trouble of the same wing seen.

War makes rattling good history; but peace is poor reading.

I've been in my share of trouble.

I'm definitely drawn to stories of just regular folks, just generally in some kind of horrific situation. I keep saying I want to do a love story in the south of France with a boy and girl and some wine. Then I always end up in an oil rig with four hundred guys or on a mountain with guys shooting at each other.

The world is always terrible.

I really like violence in writing and films.

As an actor, I'm always interested in my characters getting into trouble, because conflict is, you know, the great determiner of someone's mettle.

I don't want any drama.

There are other ways to create tension and drama than to have somebody stabbed through the back with a sword.

I don't have time for heartache or problems, especially drama.

There is too much hate in the world; too much hurt.

The greater the darkness, the better the drama.

You have a genius for bringing trouble upon yourself

The whole drama of the world is such tragedy that I am weary of the spectacle.

I can't totally talk about why we divide, but... it's interesting because we're doing this scene today that's sort of the pinnacle of that. Two gangs fighting against each other, ultimately knowing that... ya know, it's like friends fighting friends. To me it's fun, personally.

Well, Bud," he said, looking at me, "I'll be damned if you don't go to a lot of trouble to have your fun. Kidnapping, then fighting. What do you do on your holidays? Burn houses?