Hubert Selby Jr. Quotes & Sayings

I sit, I read, I listen to music, I go or a walk, I ride to Prospect Park and sit under the Willow Tree, I remember, I forget, I look at pictures, I do, I do, I do ... or I don't, but its peaceful ... only me ... no worries. — Hubert Selby Jr.

A guy needs something to give his life a reason or what's the point of living? — Hubert Selby Jr.

Eventually we all have to accept full and total responsibility for our actions, everything we have done, and have not done. — Hubert Selby Jr.

There was a problem and that was that. Why didnt make a fiddlers fuck. — Hubert Selby Jr.

But I knew that someday I was going to die. And just before I died two things would happen; Number 1: I would regret my entire life. Number 2: I would want to live my life over again. — Hubert Selby Jr.

It's always the same
you get used to one thing, then it changes. Get used to another, and that changes. Over and over. Always the same.
O well, the hell with it. It's not important anyway. — Hubert Selby Jr.

And he just sat back and stared at the tube, almost interested in what was happening, trying to find the ability to believe in that lie so he could believe the one within. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Everything about it was wrong. Thats why it worked so good. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I have joined an ancient fraternity. I have killed a man. — Hubert Selby Jr.

When you write about the people you hate the most, do it with love. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I guess it could be said that the inspiration for 'Requiem for a Dream' is watching the American dream not only destroy so many lives in the U.S., but infect the rest of the world with its obsession with getting more, ignoring the deadly effect that has on the planet. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Bodies need poison. Withdrawals without it. Toxin-free airs a killer. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Usually the space was dotted with people getting high, getting higher, or wondering why they werent high yet. — Hubert Selby Jr.

But you cant shut everyone out. I mean you have to have someone to love ... someone to hold on to ... someone
— Hubert Selby Jr.

Like if youre beautiful you dont feel pain or have dreams or know the despair of loneliness. Why should you be unhappy, youre so beautiful? My God they drive me nuts, like all I am is a beautiful body and nothing else. Not once, never, have they ever tried to love the real me, to love me for what I am, to love me for my mind. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Obviously, I believe that to pursue the American Dream is not only futile but self-destructive because ultimately it destroys everything and everyone involved with it. By definition it must, because it nurtures everything except those things that are important: integrity, ethics, truth, our very heart and soul. Why? The reason is simple: because Life/life is giving, not getting. — Hubert Selby Jr.

The enemy ate away at their will so they could not resist, their bodies not only craving, but needing the very poison that ground them into that pitiable state of being; the mind diseased and crippled by the enemy it was obsessed with and the obsession and terrible physical need corrupting the soul until the actions were less than those of an animal, less than those of a wounded animal, less than those of anything and everything they did not want to be. — Hubert Selby Jr.

An extraordinary writer ... It is the vastness of Nick Tosches' heart that makes it possible to reveal the darkness. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I think the function of suffering is to let me know that my perception is skewed; what I'm doing is judging natural events in such a way that I am creating suffering within myself. For instance, you have pain over certain conditions, certain situations that occur. And if you just say 'ok, here I am, I'm going to experience the pain,' you don't suffer. The resistance and the degree of the resistance to the natural phenomenon of life causes tremendous suffering. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I was sitting at home and had a profound experience. I experienced, in all of my Being, that someday I was going to die, and it wouldn't be like it had been happening, almost dying but somehow staying alive, but I would just die! And two things would happen right before I died: I would regret my entire life; I would want to live it over again. This terrified me. The thought that I would live my entire life, look at it and realize I blew it forced me to do something with my life. — Hubert Selby Jr.

He didnt know what was defeating him, but he sensed it was something he could not cope with, something that was far beyond his power to control or even at this point in time comprehend. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I do believe that LAST EXIT is a microcosm and that everything in the world exists within each of us which is what makes it possible for us to identify with each other, if we have the honesty and courage, and eventually realize and accept that separation is a lie and that there is only ONE LIFE and we are all that life ... EVERYTHING. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Being an artist doesn't take much. Just everything you got. Which means of course that as the process is giving you life, it is also bringing you closer to death. But it's no big deal. They are one in the same and cannot be avoided or denied. So when I totally embrace this process, this life/death, and abandon myself to it completely, I transcend all this gibberish and hang out with the gods. It seems to me that that is worth the price of admission. — Hubert Selby Jr.

It was a nice night. A pleasant evening. There seemed to be stars somewhere and it was easy to avoid stepping in the garbage and dog shit on the streets. A truly beautiful night. Tony — Hubert Selby Jr.

The natives knew better than to screw around with Tarzan. He was one bad dude. Lions, rhinos, just him and his knife. Great penthouse and elevator. Wouldnt last long in Brooklyn. Busted for indecent exposure. Me Tarzan you Judge. That is absolutely correct, and you are going to do sixty days. Try dressing as Beau Brummel the next time. Next case! — Hubert Selby Jr.

Time has to pass. But sometimes its so goddamn long. Sometimes it just seems to drag and drag and weigh a ton. And hang on you like a monkey. Like its going to suck the blood out of you. Or squeeze your guts out. And sometimes it flies. And is gone somewhere, somehow, before you know it was even here. As if time is only here to make you miserable. That's the only reason for time. To squeeze you. Crush you. To tie you up in knots and make you fucking miserable. — Hubert Selby Jr.

It/ll be better tomorrow... — Hubert Selby Jr.

The voice so filled with nostalgia that you could almost see the memories floating through the blue smoke, memories not only of music and joy and youth, but perhaps, of dreams. They listened to the music, each hearing it in his own way, feeling relaxed and a part of the music, a part of each other, and almost a part of the world. — Hubert Selby Jr.

However they may have felt when they left they were now committed, they had passed the point of no return. — Hubert Selby Jr.

There's a sorrow and pain in everyone's life, but every now and then there's a ray of light that melts the loneliness in your heart and brings comfort like hot soup and a soft bed. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Its hopeless. Thats why you cant be worried about the world. Theyll just do you in anyway. You cant depend on them because sooner or later theyll turn on you or just disappear and leave you there alone. — Hubert Selby Jr.

She gradually became aware of how dumb the damn show was she was watching and she stared at it, wondering how in the hell they could put anything so absurdly infantile and intellectually and esthetically insulting on television, and she started asking herself over and over how they could do it, what kind of nonsense this is, and she continued to stare and shake her head, more and more of her mind being absorbed by the absurdity she was watching, suddenly leaning back on the couch as a section of the show ended and a commercial came blaringly on and she stared at them too, wondering what sort of cretins watch this garbage and are influenced by it and actually go out and buy those things, and she shook her head, unbelievable, it is simply unbelievable, how can they manage to make so many obnoxious commercials, one right after the other? — Hubert Selby Jr.

He looked down at the street, and the unbroken whiteness, and watched his foot touch the snow and listened to the slight crunching sound as he stepped forward. He looked back at his footprints. They were fascinating. He had been the only one to walk along this street today. There wasn't even the mark of a dog or squirrel, or the scratch of a bird. He continued through the soft, silent snow, a feeling of peace starting to flow through him, helping make his step lighter and easier. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Life was not longer something to endure, but to live. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Thats why you cant be worried about the world. theyll just do you in anyway. you can't depend on them because sooner or later theyll turn on you or just disapear and leave you there alone. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Yes, he could walk forever. He could so easily continue to walk and all thoughts of death would fall away, absorbed by the silent snow.
[...]
And then he heard it, very faintly at first, but distinct just the same. He heard the snow falling gently through the air, each flake sounded distinctly different, yet just as each fell unhindered by another, so their sound did not clash or interfere with each other, but blended into a snow song that he knew very few had ever heard. And that song became louder, though always gentle, as he continued to be absorbed by the light, to become one with the light... and now there weren't any feet to leave prints, or a body or eyes to glow, but just light and sound and pure joy, pure eternal joy. No past, no future, no, not even a present, just ever new joy where there wasn't even a memory of pain or struggle or sorrow... just ever new joy... — Hubert Selby Jr.

Writing is a lonely are at times, we spend so much of our time locked in a room and never know if we are reaching anyone ... — Hubert Selby Jr.

I have rituals for cleaning out resentments, disappointments, heartbreak, depression and for work. One of the things I do is go over old stuff if I have been unable to write for a while. — Hubert Selby Jr.

They came close. Oh they came close. Was all set to put a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger. But there was a computer glitch. Isnt that something? A stupid glitch and I had to wait a few days and then I saw the errors of my ways, saw so clearly that I was killing the wrong person. Its not me that needs killing, its them. Funny how things can change in the wink of an eye. — Hubert Selby Jr.

It seems to me that we all have a dream of our own, our own personal vision, our own individual way of giving, but for many reasons we are afraid to pursue it, or to even recognize and accept its existence. But to deny our vision is to sell our soul. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I suspect there will never be a requiem for a dream, simply because it will destroy us before we have the opportunity to mourn it's passing. — Hubert Selby Jr.

And the night was comfortably warm as the soft filtered light continued to push the darkness into the shadows as they held each other and kissed and pushed each others darkness into the corner, believing in each others light, each others dream. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I guess we're kindred souls and that's why we can feel so close to each other. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Writing, like any art, is a continuing process of discovering the infinite possibilities of Life. — Hubert Selby Jr.

There are a lot of people in this country who really like my writing. And a lot of writers respect me. But the so-called establishment? They hate me. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't be able to stand looking at it. But it's when we're willing to come face to face with that demon that we face the angel. — Hubert Selby Jr.

The summer sun continued to rise in the sky and propel shocks of heat down on the city and the heavy moisture moistened bodies and clothing, and people fanned and wiped at sweating faces trying to survive another bitch of a day as Harry and Marion peacefully passed the day sleeping in each others arms oblivious to the reality surrounding them. — Hubert Selby Jr.

The responsibility of the artist is to transcend the human ego. — Hubert Selby Jr.

My writing is inspired by just about everything, yet I am unaware of so much of the process. — Hubert Selby Jr.

All the energy of their frustration and fear going into their laughter. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I started to die 36 hours before I was born, so dying was a way of life for me. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Sometimes it seems to stand still. Like you're in a bag and you can't get out and somebody's always telling you that it will get better with time and time just seems to stand still and laugh at you and your pain. — Hubert Selby Jr.

There was a sky somewhere above the tops of the buildings, with stars and a moon and all the things there are in a sky, but they were content to think of the distant street lights as planets and stars. If the lights prevented you from seeing the heavens, then preform a little magic and change reality to fit the need. The street lights were now planets and stars and moon. — Hubert Selby Jr.

They luxuriated in the feeling of deep and all pervading satisfaction, a feeling of knowing absolutely that all was well with the world and them and that the world was not only their oyster it was also their linguine with clam sauce. Not only were all things possible, but all things were theirs. — Hubert Selby Jr.

The bodies went back in the doors and bars and the heads in the windows. The cops drove away and Freddy and the guys went back into the Greeks and the street was quiet, just the sound of a tug and an occasional car; and even the blood couldn't be seen from a few feet away. — Hubert Selby Jr.

One of the things I have become aware of through the years is how much I love the people I write about. — Hubert Selby Jr.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Help me. Please, help me. If you really exist, you skinny jew bastard, help me kill myself. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I've always felt alienated. I realized that I've been terrified my entire life. So I can identify that fear which drives so many of the people that I write about. — Hubert Selby Jr.

This book is dedicated, with love, to Bobby, who has found the only pound of pure- Faith in a Loving God. — Hubert Selby Jr.

For weeks Tyrone thought he was going to die any minute, and there were also times when he was afraid he wasnt going to die. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I need more than the streets. I don't want to be a floating crap game all my life. I want to be something ... anything. — Hubert Selby Jr.

an event of such prodigious proportions and importance that it infused her with a new will to live and materialized a dream that brightened her days and soothed her lonely nights. — Hubert Selby Jr.

But to believe that getting stuff is the purpose and aim of life is madness. — Hubert Selby Jr.

No matter how beautiful the outside may be, the inside still has feelings and needs that just words don't fulfill. — Hubert Selby Jr.

I knew the alphabet. Maybe I could be a writer. — Hubert Selby Jr.

And yet there was not a definable thought in his mind. Only a terrifying effort to get from one side of a match box to another. — Hubert Selby Jr.