Russell Hoban Quotes

A collection of quotes by Russell Hoban.

Russell Hoban (1925-2011) was an American-born British author best known for his highly imaginative works of fiction, encompassing a wide range of genres. Born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Hoban served in the US Army during World War II before moving to London in 1969, where he spent the rest of his life.

Hoban’s writing career spanned over five decades, during which he authored more than 60 books for both children and adults. He gained significant acclaim for his picture books, such as "Bedtime for Frances" (1960) and its sequels, which featured beautifully crafted narratives exploring childhood experiences and emotions. His novel "Riddley Walker" (1980) emerged as one of his most notable works, set in a post-apocalyptic future where language has significantly evolved.

Throughout his career, Hoban’s writings often exhibited his diverse interests, blending elements of fantasy, science fiction, and magical realism. He was known for his inventive use of language, often employing wordplay, puns, and neologisms to create layers of meaning within his works. Hoban’s narratives tackled themes of loss, love, identity, and the human condition, often offering thought-provoking and philosophical insights.

Despite receiving critical acclaim, Hoban's work did not always achieve mainstream popularity. Regardless, he garnered a dedicated following of readers who appreciated his unique storytelling style and the depth of his literary explorations. Russell Hoban’s contributions to literature continue to captivate readers with their wit, imagination, and profound contemplation of the human experience.

The things that matter don't necessarily make sense.

The things that matter don't necessarily make sense.

Russell Hoban

Inspirational Philosophical

Language is an archeological vehicle... the language we spea

Language is an archeological vehicle... the language we speak is a whole palimpsest of human effort and history.

Russell Hoban

Language

Sometimes I think that the biggest difference between men an

Sometimes I think that the biggest difference between men and women is that more men need to seek out some terrible lurking thing in existence and hurl themselves upon it. Women know where it lives but they can let it alone.

Russell Hoban

Men & Women

If the past cannot teach the present and the father cannot t

If the past cannot teach the present and the father cannot teach the son, then history need not have bothered to go on, and the world has wasted a great deal of time.

Russell Hoban

Past

When you suffer an attack of nerves you're being attacked by

When you suffer an attack of nerves you're being attacked by the nervous system. What chance has a man got against a system?

Russell Hoban

Stress

After all, when you come right down to it, how many people s

After all, when you come right down to it, how many people speak the same language even when they speak the same language?

Russell Hoban

Language

But when I don't smoke I scarcely feel as if I'm living. I d

But when I don't smoke I scarcely feel as if I'm living. I don't feel as if I'm living unless I'm killing myself.

Russell Hoban

Smoking

Nothing to be done really about animals. Anything you do loo

Nothing to be done really about animals. Anything you do looks foolish. The answer isn't in us. It's almost as if we're put here on earth to show how silly they aren't.

Russell Hoban

Animals

There are situations in life to which the only satisfactory

There are situations in life to which the only satisfactory response is a physically violent one. If you don't make that response, you continually relive the unresolved situation over and over in your life.

Russell Hoban

Violence