All I wanted was to be straight so my parents could be happy. They never, never, never knew. — Maurice Sendak
I only have one subject. The question I am obsessed with is: how do children survive? — Maurice Sendak
Hansel and gretel is one of the scariest stories ever written! psychotic mother; stupid, inane father. — Maurice Sendak
I can’t believe I’ve turned into a typical old man. I can’t believe it. I was young just minutes ago. — Maurice Sendak
I became a set designer for opera. I’m a great opera buff, I love classical music, and I needed a time-out. — Maurice Sendak
I want to be alone and work until the day my heads hits the drawing table and I’m dead. Kaput. — Maurice Sendak
I think people should be given a test much like driver’s tests as to whether they’re capable of being parents! — Maurice Sendak
I’m writing a poem right now about a nose. I’ve always wanted to write a poem about a nose. — Maurice Sendak
Oh, I adored mickey mouse when I was a child. He was the emblem of happiness and funniness. — Maurice Sendak
In plain terms, a child is a complicated creature who can drive you crazy. There’s a cruelty to childhood, there’s an anger. — Maurice Sendak
Kids don’t know about best sellers. They go for what they enjoy. They aren’t star chasers and they don’t suck up. — Maurice Sendak
If life is so critical, if anne frank could die, if my friend could die, children were as vulnerable as adults — Maurice Sendak
There’s something in this country that is so opposed to understanding the complexity of children. — Maurice Sendak
When I did ‘bumble-ardy,’ I was so intensely aware of death. Eugene, my friend and partner — Maurice Sendak
People from new york have been calling, to see if I’m still alive. When I answer the phone — Maurice Sendak
Parents shouldn’t assume children are made out of sugar candy and will break and collapse instantly. Kids don’t. We do. — Maurice Sendak
You know who my Gods are, who I believe in fervently? herman melville, emily dickinson — Maurice Sendak
When mozart is playing in my room, I am in conjunction with something I can’t explain… I don’t need to. — Maurice Sendak
You cannot write for children they’re much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them. — Maurice Sendak