{"author":"James A. Michener","author_id":"James+A.+Michener","total_quotes":37,"quotes":[{"text":"Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["character","perseverance","persistence","tenacity"],"id":444,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"All I can do is play the game the way the cards fall.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["events"],"id":6165,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"The South Pacific is memorable because when you are in the islands you simply cannot ignore nature. You cannot avoid looking up at the stars, large as apples on a new tree. You cannot deafen your ear to the thunder of the surf. The bright sands, the screaming birds, and the wild winds are always with you.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["nature","travel"],"id":7439,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"For of this world one never sees enough and to dine in harmony with nature is one of the gentlest and loveliest things we can do.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["travel"],"id":20621,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"Writers turn dreams into print.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["writers"],"id":24833,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"Very early on in life, I decided the hell with it: material things weren't for me. Christmas would come, and other kids would have all these presents, and it wouldn't bother me a bit.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["life","me","material things "],"id":56460,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"Public libraries have been a mainstay of my life. They represent an individual's right to acquire knowledge; they are the sinews that bind civilized societies the world over. Without libraries, I would be a pauper, intellectually and spiritually.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["civilization","knowledge","libraries","society"],"id":57512,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"Because I am for them, Commander, because their ancestors stood up to that Nazi, Bligh, just like I would be for one little Jew, terrified and hungry, crossing the Pyrenees to get away to freedom from the Gestapo. One little Jew. You wouldn't have him in your house. He stinks, he has lice. But, you know what, Commander? I am for him, every time.” And he would punch me in the shoulder and lug his M-1 up onto the ridge, night after night.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["anti-nazi","independence"],"id":66921,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"The permanent temptation of life is to confuse dreams with reality. The permanent defeat of life comes when dreams are surrendered to reality.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["life","reality","defeat "],"id":80707,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"},{"text":"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay home.","author":"James A. Michener","tags":["humor","travel"],"id":114237,"author_id":"James+A.+Michener"}],"pagination":{"page":1,"page_size":10,"total":37,"pages":4,"next":"?page=2\u0026page_size=10"}}