Quotes by Chaim Potok

A book is sent out into the world, and there is no way of fully anticipating the responses it will elicit. Consider the responses called forth by the Bible, Homer, Shakespeare - let alone contemporary poetry or a modern novel. (Chaim Potok)

A non-fiction writer pretty much has the shape of the figure in front of him or her and goes about refining it. A work of non-fiction is not as difficult to write as a work of fiction, but its not as satisfying in the end. (Chaim Potok)

All of us grow up in particular realities - a home, family, a clan, a small town, a neighborhood. Depending upon how we're brought up, we are either deeply aware of the particular reading of reality into which we are born, or we are peripherally aware of it. (Chaim Potok)

All of us grow up in particular realities - a home, family, a clan, a small town, a neighborhood. Depending upon how were brought up, we are either deeply aware of the particular reading of reality into which we are born, or we are peripherally aware of it. (Chaim Potok)

And these two elements are at odds with one another because Freud is utterly adversary to almost all the ways of structuring the human experience found in Western religions. No Western religion can countenance Freuds view of man. (Chaim Potok)

Apocalyptic versions are fall-back systems when the normal systems cease to offer effective answers to the dilemmas of existence. (Chaim Potok)

But today we become aware of other readings of the human experience very quickly because of the media and the speed with which people travel the planet. (Chaim Potok)

Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things. (Chaim Potok)

Each work seems to give me the most trouble at the time I'm working on it. (Chaim Potok)

Every man who has shown the world the way to beauty, to true culture, has been a rebel, a universal without patriotism, without home, who has found his people everywhere. (Chaim Potok)