Famous Julian Barnes Quotes

  • History isn’t what happened, history is just what historians tell us. – Julian Barnes

    History isn’t what happened, history is just what historians tell us.– Julian Barnes

  • History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation. – Julian Barnes

    History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation.– Julian Barnes

  • Art is the whisper of history, heard above the noise of time. Art does not exist for art’s sake: it exists for people’s sake. – Julian Barnes

    Art is the whisper of history, heard above the noise of time. Art does not exist for art’s sake: it exists for people’s sake.– Julian Barnes

  • The best form of government is one that is dying, because that means it’s giving way to something else. – Julian Barnes

    The best form of government is one that is dying, because that means it’s giving way to something else.– Julian Barnes

  • The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously. – Julian Barnes

    The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving dishonorably, foolishly, viciously.– Julian Barnes

  • Most people, in my opinion, steal much of what they are. If they didn’t what poor items they would be. – Julian Barnes

    Most people, in my opinion, steal much of what they are. If they didn’t what poor items they would be.– Julian Barnes

  • Pride makes us long for a solution to things -“ a solution, a purpose, a final cause; but the better telescopes become, the more stars appear. – Julian Barnes

    Pride makes us long for a solution to things -“ a solution, a purpose, a final cause; but the better telescopes become, the more stars appear.– Julian Barnes

  • Women scheme when they are weak, they lie out of fear. Men scheme when they are strong, they lie out of arrogance. – Julian Barnes

    Women scheme when they are weak, they lie out of fear. Men scheme when they are strong, they lie out of arrogance.– Julian Barnes

  • Reading is a majority skill but a minority art. – Julian Barnes

    Reading is a majority skill but a minority art.– Julian Barnes

  • Is there anything more plausible than a second hand? – Julian Barnes

    Is there anything more plausible than a second hand?– Julian Barnes