Janis Ian Quotes

The stuff I write about doesn't, like, necessarily leave people feeling warm and fuzzy. I'm writing in a territory that's, like, contested and full of prickliness. And I find that people project their problems onto me or something.

And as a writer, one of the things that I've always been interested in doing is actually invading your comfort space. Because that's what we're supposed to do. Get under your skin, and make you react.

I have never written out of a desire to be controversial.

All of my books deal in a very rough, rude fashion with subjects about which there are great conflicts of opinion.

I've definitely seen people get angry or really uncomfortable with stuff I've made in the past. And my stand-up, if you could call what I do stand-up, is quite aggressive, too.

I think some people enjoy that I say things that upset or shake up people.

Making people uncomfortable is one of my hobbies.

Sometimes, I feel the reason I have become a star beyond my films is that I am politically incorrect.

I'm trying to talk about challenging subjects people might not like and trying to find relief as we discuss it.

I've learned that I have to be happy with creating discussion and debate and that I shouldn't be trying to write a book that appeals to the consensus.

I am not afraid that the book will be controversial, I'm afraid it will not be controversial.

If a writer doesn't generate hostility, he is dead.

I find that I take a great deal of pleasure knowing I get up people's noses to some degree.

I love being objected to. It worries me, but I love being objected to.

I seem to be some sort of lightning rod. I just really irritate people, you know? I really do.

I have written things that Republicans and Democrats and all kinds of figures have either hated or felt very uncomfortable about. Because in doing these long projects and books, you get close to the bone. And they're not calling me up and asking me for dinner.

I don't like hot takes any more than I like hot cakes.

I like to challenge the audience. I want people to feel discomfort.

I prefer to create friction. Because if you're not pushing buttons, you're just making something pleasant; it's probably been done before, and it's not making anyone feel anything.

Writers don't give prescriptions. They give headaches!

I view my job as being someone who is supposed to piss people off. I don't want to be just one-of-the-guys. I don't want to be just a smiling face you see on television presenting some vapid kind of easily-digestible garbage.

I like it when people talk s**t. Because if people weren't talking s**t, there would be nothing for me to come back with. I need that. If I don't have any ammo, what am I going to say?

If no one is pissed-off with you then you are dead but just haven't figured it out yet.

It's wonderful to be hated by idiots.

For the sake of argument I'll ignore all your fighting words.