Bernard Malamud

We have two lives, Roy, the life we learn with and the life we live with after that. Suffering is what brings us toward happiness.

— Bernard Malamud

Without heroes, we're all plain people, and don't know how far we can go.

— Bernard Malamud

I don't think you can do anything for anyone without giving up something of your own.

— Bernard Malamud

Levin wanted friendship and got friendliness; he wanted steak and they offered spam.

— Bernard Malamud

If you ever forget you are a Jew a goy will remind you.

— Bernard Malamud

Mourning is a hard business," Cesare said. "If people knew there'd be less death.

— Bernard Malamud

There comes a time in a man's life when to get where he has to – if there are no doors or windows – he walks through a wall.

— Bernard Malamud

I think I said "All men are Jews except they don't know it." I doubt I expected anyone to take the statement literally. But I think it's an understandable statement and a metaphoric way of indicating how history, sooner or later, treats all men.

— Bernard Malamud

One can't make pure clay of time's mud. There is no life that can be recaptured wholly; as it was. Which is to say that all biography is ultimately fiction.

— Bernard Malamud

Those who write about life, reflect about life…. you see in others who you are.

— Bernard Malamud

Life is a tragedy full of joy.

— Bernard Malamud

It was all those biographies in me yelling, “We want out. We want to tell you what we’ve done to you.”

— Bernard Malamud