Henry Valentine Miller was born on December 26, 1891, in New York City, USA, and became a provocative American writer known for his autobiographical novels like Tropic of Cancer (1934), which challenged societal norms with raw explorations of life and sexuality. Anais Nin, born Angela Anais Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell on February 21, 1903, in Paris, France, was a French-Cuban author celebrated for her extensive diaries and erotic literature, including Delta of Venus, offering intimate reflections on human emotions. Both were influential literary figures, with Nin and Miller sharing a passionate relationship that inspired their works. The quotes here are sourced from their books, diaries, interviews, and correspondence, focusing on themes of life. This curated list of 15 quotes highlights their profound insights into existence, drawing from a mix of their writings and discussions.
Quote List
1. “Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” (Diaries, Anais Nin, 1946)
2. “The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” (Book, “The Wisdom of the Heart,” Henry Miller, 1941)
3. “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” (Book, “Seduction of the Minotaur,” Anais Nin, 1961)
4. “Chaos is the score upon which reality is written.” (Book, “Tropic of Cancer,” Henry Miller, 1934)
5. “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” (Diaries, Anais Nin, n.d.)
6. “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” (Book, “The Colossus of Maroussi,” Henry Miller, 1941)
7. “Dreams are necessary to life.” (Diaries, Anais Nin, n.d.)
8. “The world is not to be put in order, the world is order incarnate. It is for us to put ourselves in unison with this order.” (Book, “The Wisdom of the Heart,” Henry Miller, 1941)
9. “People living deeply have no fear of death.” (Diaries, Anais Nin, n.d.)
10. “Life moves on, whether we act as cowards or heroes. Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly.” (Book, “The Wisdom of the Heart,” Henry Miller, 1941)
11. “Living never wore one out so much as the effort not to live.” (Diaries, Anais Nin, n.d.)
12. “To paint is to love again, live again, see again.” (Book, “To Paint is to Love Again,” Henry Miller, 1960)
13. “The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.” (Diaries, Anais Nin, n.d.)
14. “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” (Book, “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch,” Henry Miller, 1957)
15. “Life is truly a ride. We’re all strapped in and no one can stop it.” (Interview, Anais Nin, n.d.)
These quotes from Henry Miller and Anais Nin illuminate a shared reverence for life’s fluidity, urging us to embrace courage, awareness, and the beauty in chaos. They reveal a philosophy centered on living authentically, transforming challenges into growth, and finding wonder in the everyday. Through their words, we glimpse the depth of human experience and the call to engage fully with existence. What resonates with you? Share your favorite quote or reflections in the comments below.