It takes courage to lead a life. Any life.

— Erica Jong

It was easy enough to kill yourself in a fit of despair. It was easy enough to play the martyr. Furthermore, it was harder to do nothing. To endure your life. To wait.

— Erica Jong

I was afraid to write Fear of Flying ergo I had to write it. I have lived my life according to this principle: If I'm afraid of it then I must do it.

— Erica Jong

I went for years not finishing anything. Because of course when you finish something you can be judged.... I had poems which were rewritten so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.

— Erica Jong

I write lustily and humorously. It isn't calculated it's the way I think. I've invented a writing style that expresses who I am.

— Erica Jong

Jealousy is all the fun you think they had.

— Erica Jong

Kendall's first law of jealousy: jealousy does the cock harder and pussy wetter.

— Erica Jong

Many people today believe that cynicism requires courage. Actually, cynicism is the height of cowardice. It is innocence and open-heartiness that requires the true courage-however often we are hurt as a result of it.

— Erica Jong

Maybe marriages are best in middle age. When all the nonsense falls away, and you realize you have to love one another because you're going to die anyway.

— Erica Jong

Men and women, women and men. It will never work.

— Erica Jong