A.N. Wilson Quotes, born Andrew Norman Wilson on October 27, 1950, in Stone, England, is an acclaimed English writer, historian, and columnist known for his critical biographies, novels, and works on religion and history. His books, including Victoria: A Life and The Victorians, blend rigorous scholarship with vivid storytelling, while his controversial takes on faith, as in God’s Funeral, spark debate.
A former Oxford academic and Literary Editor for The Spectator, Wilson’s sharp prose has graced the Daily Mail and Times Literary Supplement. These 15 quotes—sourced from his writings, interviews, and public statements—reflect his insights on history, religion, human nature, and the art of writing, capturing his irreverent, thought-provoking brilliance.
15 A.N. Wilson Quotes
- “I don’t think you can tell the objective truth about a person. That’s why people write novels.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “The fact that logic cannot satisfy us awakens an almost insatiable hunger for the irrational.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “If you know somebody is going to be awfully annoyed by something you write, that’s obviously very satisfying, and if they howl with rage or cry, that’s honey.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “Brain power improves by brain use, just as our bodily strength grows with exercise.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “I believe the collapse of the House of Windsor is tied in with the collapse of the Church of England.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “It is the woman—nearly always—in spite of all the advances of modern feminism, who still takes responsibility for the bulk of the chores, as well as doing her paid job.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I do not find it easy to articulate thoughts about religion. I remain the sort of person who turns off ‘Thought for the Day’ when it comes on the radio.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “In universities and intellectual circles, academics can guarantee themselves popularity—or, which is just as satisfying, unpopularity—by being opinionated rather than by being learned.” (The Guardian, September 30, 1989)
- “Truth comes to us mediated by human love.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “I think one of the very frightening things about the regime of the National Socialists is that it made people happy.” (InspiringQuotes, n.d.)
- “It is eerie being all but alone in Westminster Abbey. Without the tourists, there are only the dead, many of them kings and queens.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “I’m like Jane Austen—I work on the corner of the dining table.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Tennyson seems to be the patron saint of the wishy washies, which is perhaps why I admire him so much, not only as a poet, but as a man.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “Of all liars the most arrogant are biographers: those who would have us believe, having surveyed a few boxes full of letters, diaries, bank statements and photographs, that they can play at the recording angel.” (LibQuotes, n.d.)
- “In a world filled with noise and distraction, a good book offers the gift of silence and contemplation.” (thewordyboy.com, 2023)
A.N. Wilson’s quotes crackle with wit, intellectual daring, and a keen eye for human complexity, inspiring us to question conventions, seek truth, and savor the power of words. Which quote stirs your mind? Share it in the comments and keep Wilson’s literary legacy alive!