Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.

— Erica Jong

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.

— Erica Jong

All writing problems are psychological problems. Blocks usually stem from the fear of being judged. If you imagine the world listening, you'll never write a line. That's why privacy is so important. You should write first drafts as if they will never be shown to anyone.

— Erica Jong

And the trouble is if you don't risk anything you risk even more.

— Erica Jong

And what is laughter anyway? Changing the angle of vision.

— Erica Jong

Any system was a straightjacket if you insisted on adhering to it so totally and humorlessly.

— Erica Jong

Because When you write about people, you inevitably offend--but if you write about animals, the evil do not recognize themselves, but the good understand immediately.

— Erica Jong

Beware of books. They are more than innocent assemblages of paper and ink and string and glue. If they are any good, they have the spirit of the author within. Authors are rogues and ruffians and easy lays. They are gluttons for sweets and savories. They devour life and always want more. Furthermore, they have sap, spirit, sex. Books are panderers. The Jews are not wrong to worship books. A real book has pheromones and sprouts grass through its cover.

— Erica Jong

Bigamy is having one husband too many. Monogamy is the same.

— Erica Jong

But if the gods do not exist at all - then we are lost,' I said. On the contrary - we are found!' said Aesop. But when we are afraid, who can we turn to, if not the gods?' Ourselves. We turn to ourselves anyway. We only pretend there are gods and that they care about us. It is a comforting falsehood.

— Erica Jong