Charlie Close > Quotes

“Mr. Lilly, on the other hand, is not selling me a product I can use. He is selling a fancy new thing called a methodology. You know what a methodology is? It's a painted box filled with nothing except my own desires for a more profitable company. He is looking to take a percentage of the transaction between me and my own soul without creating any value. This is a very old trick that's been going on since religion began. It is without ethics and it distinguishes me from Mr. Lilly.”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories

“It tugged at his soul not to talk to other writers about his work. He loved the bank, keeping it secure and compliant with the laws and regulations. People assumed these things happened by magic. They did not. Hauer never talked about it outside the office. He didn't want to make the other writers uncomfortable. If he developed a reputation as someone who brought his work with him to writers conferences they would all turn away, to sip and swizzle their drinks without him.”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories

“If I have a spreadsheet that can, whatever, turn soup cans into gold, wouldn't I deserve an office?”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories

“Mr. Lawrence drank from his beer. Do you know how I figure out what to do? I look under rocks for slime. I lick the slime with my own tongue. I see the problem for what it is, not what a consultant's methodology says it should be. I find people who are working on something that no one told them to work on, who solve a problem because they can't let it stay unsolved, who don't eat or bathe because it takes too much time. I find the ones selling their ideas to customers without going through the marketing department first. I've gotten good at picking molds off cheeses and turning them into penicillin. People used to wonder where my ideas came from. It was simple: I looked for slimy rocks and moldy cheese, and I watched the bank account like a hawk. It worked well for this company for a long time.”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories

“He continued to quarry mathematical stone at his usual grinding pace.”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories

“He slid his saxophone under the bed before we got naked on it, and I think it made the whole thing better. I really do.”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories

“This is not a book of answers. ”
― Charlie Close, Blue Sky? 98 Questions for the IT Project Manager

“spurned”
― Charlie Close, Rough & Beautiful, Very Short Romance Stories

“There are job-seekers, at least two of them. They are probably young men since they have shown up for a low-status job where they hope to see women walking around in lingerie. They are probably not very smart since everyone knows there is no such thing as the Victoria’s Secret Building. There is someone who told them an obviously-false story about the window-washing job. That person, whoever he or she is, probably has a reason for lying to the young men and does not have their best interests at heart. Therefore, whatever the “even better” job is, it is likely to be even worse. And because the young men are stupid, they will probably go along with it. And things will end badly for them.”
― Charlie Close, The Art of the Very Short Story: A Guide for Readers and Writers

“Maybe it's a good idea," said Kathy.

"Why is that?"

"Well - you have a British sensibility."

"What does that mean?"

"I just mean people over there might like it." She gestured in the direction of England.”
― Charlie Close, Burning Embers and Other Stories of Marriage, Work, and Family

“I looked up and she said, "You have to believe I did everything a reasonable person would do. Maybe I didn't reach my hands into toilet water, but I did everything else I could.”
― Charlie Close, Burning Embers and Other Stories of Marriage, Work, and Family

“Best of all, she waits outside the dressing room while I'm changing. Girlfriends don't do this but wives do, and if there is any better reason to get married than to have someone to hold your hand in a clothing store, I don't know what it is.”
― Charlie Close, Burning Embers and Other Stories of Marriage, Work, and Family

“tried never to be more dressed up than my wife. That’s just good husband policy,”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories

“I have been unable to prevent my life from being funny.”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories

“You need a shorter emotional intestine,” she said,”
― Charlie Close, Before the Ripcord Broke: Stories