All scholars are a bit mad. All obsessions are dangerous.

That is human nature, that people come after you, willingly enough, provided only that you no longer love or want them.

Shulman argues that work that is valued is work that is presented to colleagues. The failure to make this kind of wider connection weakens the sense of community. This happens in scholarly life when such essential functions as professional service or teaching do not get discussed openly or often enough.

My professional and human obsession is the nature of language, and my best relationships are with other writers. In many ways, I know George Eliot better than I know my husband.

Academia is the death of cinema. It is the very opposite of passion. Film is not the art of scholars, but of illiterates.

To have the beginning of a truly great story, you need to have a character you're completely and utterly obsessed with. Without obsession, to the point of a maddening addiction,there's no point to continue.