Colson Whitehead Quotes

Emotions are messy and hard to figure out.

I've always been pretty in touch with what I'm feeling.

There wanted not some beams of light to guide men in the exercise of their Stocastick faculty.

You get clarity as you get sober, and you get clarity as you get older.

A great interpreter of life ought not himself to need interpretation.

I understand exactly what I am.

Everything I've ever taught in terms of self-help boils down to this - I cannot believe people keep paying me to say this - if something feels really good for you, you might want to do it. And if it feels really horrible, you might want to consider not doing it. Thank you, give me my $150.

Out: Reading is fundamental. In: Feeling is fundamental.

I pondered what I should do and wasn't sure. Then it just finally became clear.

It's just not easy to explain to someone else what you don't understand yourself.

Older and wiser voices can help you find the right path, if you are only willing to listen.

I kind of woke up one morning and was like, 'Oh I see what's happening, I get everything'. I woke up and was like, 'I get it, I'm a product.'

I write in order to find out what I truly know and how I really feel about certain things. Writing requires me to go much deeper into my thoughts and memories than conversation does. Writing provides the solitude necessary to reflect on being in this world.

I can never say 'why' about anything I do. I suppose I can say 'how' and 'when' and 'what.' But 'why' is impenetrable to me.

I aim to be translucent, so you don't notice the words, just their meaning. I haven't much insight into people's motivations.

Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding.

I could only lead if I could see the way to go, otherwise it would be a case of the blind leading the blind.

At the end of the day, none of us are the Oracle of Delphi, so we don't get everything right. It's always good to be able to listen and to take on what seems to be the right thing to do.

I'm not a confused person in real life. I'm very clear.

Sometimes one misses the sign posts as you're going down the road. They aren't as obvious as they become when you get to the end of the road, so to speak.

And so he who looks down at his feet will not know the truth, but he who discerns by the sun which way to go.

We have been so blinded by thinking and feeling that we have never seen the World.

The moment you know you know you know.

Before you attempt to set things right, make sure you see things right.

How can you get very far, If you don't know who you are? How can you do what you ought, If you don't know what you've got? And if you don't know which to do Of all the things in front of you, Then what you'll have when you are through Is just a mess without a clue Of all the best that can come true If you know What and Which and Who.