It wasn't until I was 37 that I grasped the great truth that you've got to write your own books and nobody else's, and then everything followed from there.

— William Golding

I've always been puzzled, and am still at this moment in a state of confusion, between the imaginative world and the real world. It is perfectly true to say that I have at some times in my life found that the imaginative world had pushed the real world right out of the way, and was literally more real.

— William Golding

Jack looked around for understanding, but found only respect.

— William Golding

Language fits over experience like a straight-jacket.

— William Golding

Life […] is scientific, that’s what it is.

— William Golding

Life itself is a rickety building

— William Golding

Lying there in the darkness, he knew he was an outcast. " 'Cos I had some sense.

— William Golding

My yesterdays walk with me. They keep step, they are gray faces that peer over my shoulder.

— William Golding

-No, not it... I mean...what makes things break up like they do?-Piggy rubbed his glasses slowly and thought. When he understood how Ralph had gone towards accepting him he flushed pinky with pride.-I don not, Ralph. I expect it's him.--Jack?--Jack- A taboo was evolving round that word too.

— William Golding

Now we, if not in the spirit, have been caught up to see our earth, our mother, Gaia Mater, set like a jewel in space. We have no excuse now for supposing her riches inexhaustible nor the area we have to live on limitless because unbounded. We are the children of that great blue white jewel. Through our mother we are part of the solar system and part through that of the whole universe. In the blazing poetry of the fact we are children of the stars.

— William Golding