March 2: Notable Births and Deaths, with Quotes

Let’s explore notable birth and death anniversaries for March 2.

John Irving, novelist and screenwriter (March 2, 1942–present)

“I don’t give myself time off or make myself work; I have no work routine. I am compulsive about writing, I need to do it the way I need sleep and exercise and food and sex; I can go without it for a while, but then I need it.” —John Irving
Hansen, Ron. “John Irving, The Art of Fiction No. 93.” The Paris Review, Summer-Fall 1986, https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/2757/the-art-of-fiction-no-93-john-irving.

“A novel is such a long involvement; when I’m beginning a book, I can’t work more than two or three hours a day. I don’t know more than two or three hours a day about a new novel. Then there’s the middle of a book. I can work eight, nine, twelve hours then, seven days a week—if my children let me; they usually don’t.” —John Irving
Hansen, Ron. “John Irving, The Art of Fiction No. 93.” The Paris Review, Summer-Fall 1986, https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/2757/the-art-of-fiction-no-93-john-irving.

“I write very quickly; I rewrite very slowly. It takes me nearly as long to rewrite a book as it does to get the first draft. I can write more quickly than I can read.” —John Irving
Hansen, Ron. “John Irving, The Art of Fiction No. 93.” The Paris Review, Summer-Fall 1986, https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/2757/the-art-of-fiction-no-93-john-irving.

Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union (March 2, 1931–August 30, 2022)

“Due to the situation which has evolved as a result of the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, I hereby discontinue my activities at the post of President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.” —Mikhail Gorbachev
Reuters. “End of the Soviet Union; Text of Gorbachev’s Farewell Address.” The New York Times, December 26, 1991, https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/26/world/end-of-the-soviet-union-text-of-gorbachev-s-farewell-address.html.

“Destiny so ruled that when I found myself at the helm of this state it already was clear that something was wrong in this country.” —Mikhail Gorbachev
Reuters. “End of the Soviet Union; Text of Gorbachev’s Farewell Address.” The New York Times, December 26, 1991, https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/26/world/end-of-the-soviet-union-text-of-gorbachev-s-farewell-address.html.

“We’re now living in a new world. An end has been put to the cold war and to the arms race, as well as to the mad militarization of the country, which has crippled our economy, public attitudes and morals. The threat of nuclear war has been removed.” —Mikhail Gorbachev
Reuters. “End of the Soviet Union; Text of Gorbachev’s Farewell Address.” The New York Times, December 26, 1991, https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/26/world/end-of-the-soviet-union-text-of-gorbachev-s-farewell-address.html.

John Wesley, theologian (June 28, 1703–March 2, 1791)

“All the blessings which God hath bestowed upon man are of his mere grace, bounty, or favour; his free, undeserved favour; favour altogether undeserved; man having no claim to the least of his mercies.” —John Wesley
Wesley, John. “Salvation by Faith.” The Museum of Methodism & John Wesley’s House, June 18, 1738, https://www.wesleysheritage.org.uk/exhibits/john-wesleys-sermons/sermon-sheet/?o=2660&t=.

“Yea, two persons may do the same outward work; suppose, feeding the hungry, or clothing the naked; and, in the meantime, one of these may be truly religious, and the other have no religion at all: For the one may act from the love of God, and the other from the love of praise.” —John Wesley
Wesley, John. “The Way of the Kingdom.” The Museum of Methodism & John Wesley’s House, https://www.wesleysheritage.org.uk/exhibits/john-wesleys-sermons/sermon-sheet/?o=2666&t=.

“It is God alone who can cast out Satan. But he is generally pleased to do this by man as an instrument in his hand: who is then said to cast out devils in his name, by his power and authority.” —John Wesley
Wesley, John. “A Caution against Bigotry.” The Museum of Methodism & John Wesley’s House, https://www.wesleysheritage.org.uk/exhibits/john-wesleys-sermons/sermon-sheet/?o=2697&t=.

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