110+ William Goldman Quotes On Education, Society And Book

William Goldman was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for his novel The Princess Bride, as well as for his Academy Award-winning screenplay for the film adaptation of the novel. Goldman also wrote screenplays for several other films, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, and The Marathon Man. Following is our collection on famous quotes by William Goldman on education, life, society.

Top 10 William Goldman Quotes

1. Life is pain, highness. Anyone who tells you differently is selling something.
2. Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.
3. Her heart was a secret garden and the walls were very high.
4. Westley and I are joined by the bond of love and you cannot track that, not with a thousand bloodhounds, and you cannot break it, not with a thousand swords.
5. Never get involved in a land war in Asia.
6. Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches.
7. Nobody knows anything...... Not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what's going to work. Every time out it's a guess and, if you're lucky, an educated one.
8. A good writer is not someone who knows how to write- but how to rewrite
9. Just because you're beautiful and perfect, it's made you conceited.
10. "We’ll never survive!” “Nonsense. You’re only saying that because no one ever has."

William Goldman Image Quotes

Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line. — William Goldman

William Goldman Short Quotes

• You are trying to kidnap what I have rightfully stolen, and I think it quite ungentlemanly.
• Good night, Westley. Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning.
• He's right on top of us. I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using.
• I mean if we even had a wheelbarrow, that would be something.
• The hollowness was in his arms and the world was snowing.
• There were some things you did, no matter what, and when a friend needed help, you helped them.
• I know something you do not know. I am not left-handed either.
• You can never trust what you read.
• Never argue with your wife about hostility when she's a certified Freudian.
• You could concentrate much more deeply when you were alone with agony.

William Goldman Quotes About Life

Who says life is fair, where is that written? — William Goldman

Life isn't fair. It's just fairer than death, that's all. — William Goldman

Inconceivable!" "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. — William Goldman

I've been in the revenge buisness for so long, now that it's over I don't know what to do with the rest of my life. — William Goldman

Life is difficult. Anyone who says different is trying to sell you something. — William Goldman

Life isn't fair, it's just fairer than death, that's all. — William Goldman

Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. — William Goldman

The first morning after Westley's departure, Buttercup thought she was entitled to do nothing more than sit around moping and feeling sorry for herself. After all, the love of her life had fled, life had no meaning, how could you face the future, et cetera, et cetera. — William Goldman

The easiest thing to do on earth is not write…But this is life on earth, you can't have everything. — William Goldman

And that's when she put her book down. And looked at me. And said it: "Life isn't fair, Bill. we tell our children that it is, but it's a terrible thing to do. It's not only a lie, it's a cruel lie. Life is not fair, and it never has been, and it's never going to be. — William Goldman

William Goldman Quotes About Book

When I was your age, television was called books. — William Goldman

When was the last time you read a book? The truth now. And picture books don't count-I mean something with print in it. — William Goldman

Is this a kissing book? — William Goldman

This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it. — William Goldman

The Princess Bride S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure You had to admire a guy who called his own new book a classic before it was published and anyone had a chance to read it. — William Goldman

One way an author dies a little each day is when his books go out of print. — William Goldman

Look. (Grown-ups skip this paragraph) I'm not about to tell you this book has a tragic ending. I already said in the very first line how it was my favorite in all the world. But there's a lot of bad stuff coming. — William Goldman

William Goldman Quotes About Love

True love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops. — William Goldman

Love is many things none of them logical. — William Goldman

I've been saying it so long to you, you just wouldn't listen. Every time you said 'Farm Boy do this' you thought I was answering 'As you wish' but that's only because you were hearing wrong. 'I love you' was what it was, but you never heard. — William Goldman

Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while. — William Goldman

I love you,” Buttercup said. “I know this must come as something of a surprise, since all I’ve ever done is scorn you and degrade you and taunt you, but I have loved you for several hours now, and every second, more. — William Goldman

Westley: This is true love — you think this happens every day? — William Goldman

I love you. Okay? Want it louder? I LOVE YOU. Spell it out, should I? I ell-oh-vee-ee why-oh-you. Want it backward? You love I. — William Goldman

For you see each day I love you more today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow. Just because you're beautiful and perfect, it's made you conceited. — William Goldman

The Queen's Pride was his ship, and he loved her. (That was the way his sentences always went: It is raining today and I love you. My cold is better and I love you. Say hello to Horse and I love you. Like that.) — William Goldman

Westly, Westly, Westly, Westly, Westly,--darling Westly, adored Westly, sweet perfect Westly, whisper that I have a chance to win your love." And with that, she dared the bravest thing she'd ever done: she looked right into his eyes. He closed the door in her face. — William Goldman

William Goldman Quotes About Writing

You have to protect your writing time. You have to protect it to the death. — William Goldman

One of the easiest things in the world is not to write... If it were easy, everyone would do it. — William Goldman

I write out of revenge. — William Goldman

William Goldman Quotes About Hollywood

My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die! — William Goldman

Studio executives are intelligent, brutally overworked men and women who share one thing in common with baseball managers: they wake up every morning of the world with the knowledge that sooner or later they're going to get fired. — William Goldman

In Hollywood, no one knows anything. — William Goldman

Whoever invented the meeting must have had Hollywood in mind. I think they should consider giving Oscars for meetings: Best Meeting of the Year, Best Supporting Meeting, Best Meeting Based on Material from Another Meeting. — William Goldman

William Goldman Famous Quotes And Sayings

Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line. — William Goldman

Fool!" cried the hunchback. "You fell victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia,' but only slightly less well known is this: 'Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line. — William Goldman

Anything there is that I can do for you, I will do for you; anything there is that I cannot do, I will learn to do. — William Goldman

I am your Prince and you will marry me," Humperdinck said. Buttercup whispered, "I am your servant and I refuse." "I am you Prince and you cannot refuse." "I am your loyal servant and I just did." "Refusal means death." "Kill me then. — William Goldman

While he was watching the ships, Buttercup shoved him with all her strength remaining. [...] Down went the man in black. [...] "You can die too for all I care," she said, and then she turned away. Words followed her. Whispered from far, weak and warm and familiar. "As...you...wish..." — William Goldman

Everyone had told her, since she became a princess-in-training, that she was very likely the most beautiful woman in the world. Now she was going to be the richest and the most powerful as well. Don't expect too much from life, Buttercup told herself as she rode along. Learn to be satisfied with what you have. — William Goldman

People don't remember me. Really. It's not a paranoid thing; I just have this habit of slipping through memories. It doesn't bother me all that much, except I guess that's a lie; it does. For some reason, I test very high on forgettability. — William Goldman

No. Not yet. A craftsman only. But I dream to be an artist. I pray that someday, if I work with enough care, if I am very very lucky, I will make a weapon that is a work of art. Call me an artist then, and I will answer. — William Goldman

Since the invention of the kiss, there have only been five kisses that were rated the most passionate, the most pure. This one left them all behind. — William Goldman

Why do you wear a mask and hood?" I think everybody will in the near future," was the man in black's reply. "They're terribly comfortable. — William Goldman

Miracle Max: Have fun stormin' da castle. Valerie: Think it'll work? Miracle Max: It would take a miracle. — William Goldman

Fezzik's in trouble, bubble bubble, His brain is just not in the pink, His mind is rubble, rub-a-dub double, Because everyone needs him to think. — William Goldman

There have been five great kisses since 1642 B.C...(before then couples hooked thumbs.) And the precise rating of kisses is a terribly difficult thing, often leading to great controversy.... Well, this one left them all behind. — William Goldman

Look, are you just fiddling around with me or what?" "I just want you to feel you're doing well. I hate for people o die embarrassed. — William Goldman

There is one crucial rule that must be followed in all creative meetings. Never speak first. At least at the start, your job is to shut up. — William Goldman

At 8:23 there seemed every chance of a lasting alliance starting between Florin and Guilder. At 8:24 the two nations were very close to war. — William Goldman

When I left you, you were already more beautiful than anything I dared to dream. In our years apart, my imaginings did their best to improve on your perfection. At night, your face was forever behind my eyes. And now I see that that vision who kept me company in my loneliness was a hag compared to the beauty now before me. — William Goldman

Tr...ooooo...luv...' Fezzik grabbed onto Inigo in panic and they both pivoted, staring at the man in black, who was silent again. '"True love," he said,' Inigo cried. 'You heard him - true love is what he wants to come back for. That's certainly worthwhile.' 'Sonny, don't you tell me what's worthwhile - true love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops. Everybody knows that. — William Goldman

I suppose I was dying again, so I asked the Lord of Permanent Affection for the strength to live the day. Clearly, the answer came in the affirmative." "I didn't know there was such a Fellow," Buttercup said. "Neither did I, in truth, but if He didn't exist, I didn't much want to either. — William Goldman

Inside and out, Westley's world was ripping apart and he could do nothing but crack along with it. — William Goldman

Let me get this thing straight, Inigo--we had SCRAPS for dinner? I'M in YOUR fantasy and the best you can come up with is SCRAPS?" She turned toward the door then. "You have no chance of winning my heart. — William Goldman

She loves you," the Prince cried. "She loves you still and you love her, so think of that--think of this too: in all this world, you might have been happy, genuinely happy. Not one couple in a century has that chance, not really, no matter what the storybooks say, but you could have had it, and so, I would think, no one will ever suffer a loss as great as you. — William Goldman

The Duchess set about studying Annette and shortly found her adversary's tragic flaw. Chocolate. — William Goldman

Westley: Hear this now: I will always come for you. Buttercup: But how can you be sure? Westley: This is true love-you think this happens every day? Westley: I told you I would always come for you. Why didn't you wait for me? Buttercup: Well...you were dead. Westley: Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while. Buttercup: i will never doubt again. Westley: There will never be a need. — William Goldman

You have a dizzying intellect. — William Goldman

[Prince Humperdinck] was seventy-five minutes away from his first female murder, and he wondered if he could get his fingers to her throat before even the start of a scream. He had been practicing on giant sausages all the afternoon and had the movements down pretty pat, but then, giant sausages weren’t necks and all the wishing in the world wouldn’t make them so. — William Goldman

My Westley will come for me. — William Goldman

You think this is a trap then?" the Count asked. "I always think everything is a trap until proven otherwise," the Prince answered. "Which is why I'm still alive. — William Goldman

The tears that kept Buttercup company the remainder of the day were not at all like those that had blinded her into the tree trunk. Those were noisy and hot; they pulsed. These were silent and steady and all they did was remind her that she wasn’t good enough. She was seventeen, and every male she’d ever known had crumbled at her feet and it meant nothing. The one time it really mattered, she wasn’t good enough. — William Goldman

He had risked his life and now it was walking away from him, hand-in-hand with a Ruffian prince. — William Goldman

I just know once you're over your emotional outbursts, you'll come up with-' I mean if we even had a wheelbarrow, that would be something,' Westley said. — William Goldman

Buttercup's mother hesitated, then put her stew spoon down. (This was after stew, but so is everything. When the first man first clambered from the slime and made his first home on land, what he had for supper that first night was stew.) — William Goldman

Now what happens?" asked the man in black. "We face each other as God intended," Fezzik said. "No tricks, no weapons, skill against skill alone." "You mean you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword and we'll try to kill each other like civilized people, is that it? — William Goldman

Have fun storming the castle! — William Goldman

No more rhymes now I mean it!” “Anybody want a peanut?” “AAHH! — William Goldman

But just as he knew the sun was obliged to rise each morning in the east, no matter how much a western arisal might have pleased it, so he knew that Buttercup was obliged to spend her love on him. Gold was inviting, and so was royalty, but they could not match the fever in his heart, and sooner or later she would have to catch it. She had less choice than the sun. — William Goldman

There are always too few perfect breasts in this world; leave yours alone. — William Goldman

Existence was really very simple when you did what you were told. — William Goldman

Dummy, dummy, go out now and fill your tummy. — William Goldman

I don't guess. I think. I ponder. I deduce. Then I decide. But I never guess. — William Goldman

Chapter One. The Bride." He held up the book then. "I'm reading it to you for relax." He practically shoved the book in my face. "By S. Morgenstern. Great Florinese writer. The Princess Bride. He too came to America. S. Morgenstern. Dead now in New York. The English is his own. He spoke eight tongues." Here my father put down the book and held up all his fingers. "Eight. Once in Florin City... — William Goldman

Mawidge is a dweam wiffin a dweam. The dweam of wuv wapped wiffin the gweater dweam of everwasting west. Eternity is our fwiend, wemember that, and wuv wiw fowwow you fowever. — William Goldman

I don't like killing a girl," the Spaniard said. "God does it all the time; if it doesn't bother Him, don't let it worry you. — William Goldman

Duhhhhhhh, tanks, Buttercup. — William Goldman

You are wonderful, Father.""I'm more than wonderful, how dare you insult me. — William Goldman

I guess the most amazing thing about crying though is that when you're in it, you think it'll go on forever but it never really lasts half what you think. Not in terms of real time. In terms of real emotions, it's worse than you think, but not by the clock. — William Goldman

I'm not witch. I'm your wife. — William Goldman

Mawwage. Mawwage is what bwings us together today. — William Goldman

You're an enemy of art and I pity your ignorance," Domingo said. — William Goldman

He held up a book then. “I'm going to read it to you for relax.” “Does it have any sports in it?” “Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True Love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest Ladies. Snakes. Spiders... Pain. Death. Brave men. Cowardly men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.” “Sounds okay,” I said and I kind of closed my eyes. — William Goldman

I must be overtired', Buttercup managed. 'The excitement and all.' 'Rest then', her mother cautioned. 'Terrible things can happen when you're overtired. I was overtired the night your father proposed. — William Goldman

The enemy is always in the mind. — William Goldman

Her mother was my wife," the Count roared, loudest of all. "You pathetic excuse for am money-grubbing fool, you disgrace to the face of the world." And with a shriek of disgust he turned and was gone. Guilietta was beside Inigo then, so excited. "Daddy likes you," she said. — William Goldman

Let's look on the bright side: we're having an adventure, Fezzik, and most people live and die without being as lucky as we are. — William Goldman

i have come to terms with my life, and that is my affair - i am not cold, i swear, but i have decided certain things, it is best for me to ignore emotion; i have not been happy dealing with it. — William Goldman

Being a screenwriter is not enough for a full creative life. — William Goldman

I understand everything,” he said. “You understand nothing, but it really doesn’t matter, since what you mean is, you’re glad to see me, just as I’m glad to see you because no more loneliness.” “That’s what I mean,” said Fezzik. — William Goldman

It was only when the giant got halfway down the incline that he suddenly, happily, burst into flame and continued his trip saying, "NO SURVIVORS, NO SURVIVORS!" in a manner that could only indicate deadly sincerity. It was seeing him happily burning and advancing that startled the Brute Squad to screaming. And once that happened, why, everybody panicked and ran. — William Goldman

Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. If this is true, or if you are one of the people who believe this is true, then the one universal way to enjoy life is still the same, which is to learn to be grateful that it is not worse!! — William Goldman

Life Lessons by William Goldman

1. William Goldman taught us to never give up on our dreams, no matter how hard things get. He showed us that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
2. He also taught us the importance of resilience, and that failure is not the end, but rather an opportunity to learn and grow.
3. Lastly, he showed us the power of storytelling, and how it can be used to create powerful and meaningful works of art.