Quotes by Boris Vian

About Boris Vian:

Boris Vian is best remembered today for his novels. Those published under the pseudonym Vernon Sullivan were bizarre parodies of criminal fiction, highly controversial at the time of their release. Vian's other fiction, published under his real name, featured a highly individual writing style with numerous made-up words, subtle wordplay and surrealistic plots. L'Écume des jours (Froth on the Daydream) is the best known of these works, and one of the few translated into English.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

– C’est ce receveur, expliqua le conducteur. – Ah ! dit Amadis. – Il aime pas les voyageurs. Alors, il s’arrange pour qu’on parte sans voyageur et il ne sonne jamais. Je le sais bien. – C’est vrai, dit Amadis. – Il est fou, vous com...

Boris Vian

– C’est formidable, dit Anne, quand on se met à penser à tous ces types qui travaillent pour rien. Qui restent huit heures par jour dans leur bureau. Qui peuvent y rester huit heures par jour. – Mais vous avez été comme ça, jusqu’ici, di...

Boris Vian

- Is it their fault if they think that it’s good to work? - No, said Colin, it’s not their fault. It’s because they’ve been told : work is sacred, it’s good, it’s nice, it’s what counts before anything, and only those who work have the ...

Boris Vian

The three great moments of my life had to be the concerts of Ellington in 1938, Dizzy in '48, and Ella in '52.

Boris Vian

One ends up relying on pure musical inspiration, and failing that, the music won't lead to anything good, or it will alienate all but the most die-hard fans.

Boris Vian

There are only two things: love, all sorts of love, with pretty girls, and the music of New Orleans or Duke Ellington. Everything else ought to go, because everything else is ugly.

Boris Vian

Of course, it's fun to play with Blacks.

Boris Vian

I played the trumpet a bit like a porker, I think.

Boris Vian

Sans le jazz, la vie serait une erreur

Boris Vian

Mejor sería ganarse la vida pero mi vida es mía, solo mía, mi vida no necesito ganármela.

Boris Vian

The problem is the following, black music is increasing encumbered by white elements, often pleasant but always superfluous, easily and advantageously replaced with black elements.

Boris Vian

Author Bio

  • NameBoris Vian
  • DescriptionFrench polymath: writer, poet, musician, singer, translator, critic, actor, inventor and engineer
  • BornMarch 10, 1920
  • DiedJune 23, 1959
  • CountryFrance
  • ProfessionPolymath; Singer; Poet; Trumpeter; Lyricist; Painter; Translator; Engineer; Librettist; Playwright; Journalist; Writer; Songwriter; Musician; Composer
  • WorksFroth On The Daydream; I Spit On Your Graves; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Turmoil In The Swaths; ; Vercoquin And The Plankton; ; Heartsnatcher; The Red Grass; Autumn In Peking; ; ; ; ; ; Je Voudrais Pas Crever; ; ;