Helen Garner Quotes

It's great when people appreciate your work, but I don't know how seriously to take it. The amazing thing is that I found something so early that I can support myself doing, and that can even be extremely lucrative, but I love it either way.

There are lots of things I could have done for the money, but I've made a great living doing the things I want to do.

I began as a journalist for my pocketbook and a poet for my soul.

Converting your own passions into a job is the fastest method for eliminating any passion you once had.

I lost that excitement I had when I first started out. It was all about the need to just get a job, and so I found the joy again when I was writing Deuce Bigelow. I was laughing so hard and along with my writing partner at the time, simply laughing until we cried.

To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness

As long as I'm creating, I am happy... whether directing, producing, writing, acting.

What I really care about is writing... Some people feel about touring the way I feel about writing, which is, 'Whoa, I can't believe I get to do this as a job.'

I think one of the things that is essential for happiness in life, or at least for non-sadness, is producing something. I guess that's why I spend so much time and agony writing books. But working on carpentry is sort of like all the pleasure with none of the agony.

I'm happy to have a job. I play a little, write a little, perform some. It's not like it's an engineered, well-manufactured plan or anything. I just do what I do.

I need to write to be happy.

I love to work with people and do what I love.

I'm all about supporting anyone whose art is also the way they make their living.

I'm not a businessman. I could pack it in, but I like work. I don't want to sound like Catherine Cookson, but I've worked since I was eight, with a paper round and in a fruit and veg shop.

One thing young people have to always keep in mind when deciding what they want to do with their lives is, is it fun? Is it something that I'm interested in? Is it something I enjoy?

There are a lot of other things in this world that can and will bring me joy. Acting is one of them.

The most important lesson I've learned is how rich and rewarding life is when one can engage in meaningful work, whether on the job or outside of work.

I've only wanted paper and beautiful colors. It was my dream, and it still is my dream. And books. They're all I need, and the rest I can do without.

Since I quit banking, all my major life decisions, when they could, have revolved around writing.

Writing, and its theatre of operation, is better than working shifts packing frozen sausages; that's all I need to think about if I'm having difficulties.

I've never felt that acting was my vocation - never had that tortured thing. I love acting, but it doesn't feed my soul.

Maybe it sounds like I'm splitting hairs here but I don't wanna perform for a living, I wanna live for a living.

I've wanted to write ever since I've gotten into comics. I wrote little things for myself when I was doing mini-comics and things, before becoming a professional. But I just figure at some point or another, I've got to make the leap. I just have to do it.

I've always been able to survive by writing, though.

My life is in the art that I make, and I'm very happy with it.