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Lawrence Block

110quotes

Full Name and Common Aliases


Lawrence Block is a renowned American crime novelist, short story writer, and poet. He is commonly known by his pen names Ellery Queen, Belle Dietrich, and John Warren.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on June 24, 1934, in New York City, Lawrence Block passed away on June 8, 2022, at the age of 87.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Block was an American writer of mystery fiction, best known for his novels and short stories featuring private investigator Matthew Scudder. He is also a two-time winner of the Edgar Award, given by the Mystery Writers of America, for Best Novel.

Early Life and Background


Lawrence Block grew up in Ozone Park, Queens, New York City. His early love for writing was encouraged by his mother, who sent him to summer camps where he honed his storytelling skills. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School and later enrolled at Brooklyn College, but dropped out before graduating.

Major Accomplishments


Block has published over 100 books, including novels, short story collections, and essays. His notable works include the Matthew Scudder series, which features a hard-drinking, wisecracking private investigator, and the Bernie Rhodenbarr series, about a charismatic thief. He has also written several non-fiction books on writing craft.

Notable Works or Actions


Some of Block's most famous novels are:

_The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep_ (1973)
 _A Ticket to the Boneyard_ (1981)
* _Eight Million Ways to Die_ (1986)

He has also written several novels under his pseudonym, Ellery Queen, including _Calypso_ (1963) and _The Player on the Other Side_ (1963).

Impact and Legacy


Lawrence Block's writing career spans over six decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and talented mystery writers of all time. His novels have been translated into numerous languages, selling millions of copies worldwide.

His influence can be seen in many other authors, including Dennis Lehane and Laura Lippman, who have cited Block as an inspiration.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Lawrence Block is widely quoted for his witty humor, insightful observations on human nature, and expertise on the craft of writing. He has been praised by critics and readers alike for his unique blend of humor, pathos, and suspenseful storytelling. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers and readers alike.

Block's quotes often appear in books, articles, and online publications as a testament to his wit and insight into human nature.

Quotes by Lawrence Block

I can't persuade myself that one of the problems facing the planet today might be a shortage of books by me.
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I can't persuade myself that one of the problems facing the planet today might be a shortage of books by me.
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I've always essentially been a New Yorker.
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I've always essentially been a New Yorker.
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While at SMLA, I wrote a science fiction short-short called “Make A Prison.” It worked its way all the way down to the very bottom of the S-F food chain, finally selling to Bob Lowndes at Original Science Fiction Stories for a half cent a word, then wound up in Judith Merril’s prestigious annual anthology. I was elated – but I never wrote another piece of science fiction.
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While at SMLA, I wrote a science fiction short-short called “Make A Prison.” It worked its way all the way down to the very bottom of the S-F food chain, finally selling to Bob Lowndes at Original Science Fiction Stories for a half cent a word, then wound up in Judith Merril’s prestigious annual anthology. I was elated – but I never wrote another piece of science fiction.
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I find him whelming, personally. Neither overwhelming nor underwhelming but somewhere in the middle.
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I find him whelming, personally. Neither overwhelming nor underwhelming but somewhere in the middle.
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Fiction writing starts off by requiring the towering arrogance that enables one to sit down at the typewriter in the belief that someone somewhere will actually be eager to read the productions of our own private imaginations. But that arrogance must be buffered by the humility that leads us to learn our craft and strive to make our work comprehensible and inviting and accessible to the reader.
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Fiction writing starts off by requiring the towering arrogance that enables one to sit down at the typewriter in the belief that someone somewhere will actually be eager to read the productions of our own private imaginations. But that arrogance must be buffered by the humility that leads us to learn our craft and strive to make our work comprehensible and inviting and accessible to the reader.
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You got to ask a street question to get a street answer.
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You got to ask a street question to get a street answer.
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The New Your energy goes beyond anything you’ll find anywhere else. It’s too much for some people and it grinds them down, but it lifts up and animates the rest of us.
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The New Your energy goes beyond anything you’ll find anywhere else. It’s too much for some people and it grinds them down, but it lifts up and animates the rest of us.
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Hopper was neither an illustrator nor a narrative painter. His paintings don’t tell stories. What they do is suggest – powerfully, irresistibly – that there are stories within them, waiting to be told. He shows us a moment in time, arrayed on a canvas; there’s clearly a past and a future, but it’s our task to find it for ourselves.
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Hopper was neither an illustrator nor a narrative painter. His paintings don’t tell stories. What they do is suggest – powerfully, irresistibly – that there are stories within them, waiting to be told. He shows us a moment in time, arrayed on a canvas; there’s clearly a past and a future, but it’s our task to find it for ourselves.
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WHEN you hit a gay bar in the middle of a weekday afternoon you wonder why they don’t call it something else.
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WHEN you hit a gay bar in the middle of a weekday afternoon you wonder why they don’t call it something else.
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Come on in,” Elaine said. “She’s already here. Pam, this is Mr. Scudder, Matthew Scudder. Matt, I’d like you to meet Pam.
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Come on in,” Elaine said. “She’s already here. Pam, this is Mr. Scudder, Matthew Scudder. Matt, I’d like you to meet Pam.
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