Cyril Connolly
Cyril Connolly
Cyril Vernon Connollywas a literary critic and writer. He was the editor of the influential literary magazine Horizonand wrote Enemies of Promise, which combined literary criticism with an autobiographical exploration of why he failed to become the successful author of fiction that he had aspired to be in his youth...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionJournalist
Date of Birth10 September 1903
condemned himself lazy starts talents whatever
A lazy person, whatever the talents with which he starts out, have condemned himself to second-rate thoughts, and to second-rate friends
absolute art entire grand requires
Art is an absolute mistress; she will not be coquetted with or slighted; she requires the most entire self-devotion, and she repays with grand triumphs.
country
It is only in the country that we can get to know a fellow-being or a book.
blow industry nose state
He could not blow his nose without moralizing on the state of the handkerchief industry
dead dear epitaph green leaves tree
Green leaves on a dead tree is our epitaph -- green leaves, dear reader, on a dead tree.
fury lover searching woman
There is no fury like a woman searching for a new lover
dignity friend last point respects wanting
The friendships which last are those wherein each friend respects the other's dignity to the point of not really wanting anything from him
art develops equals imagination liquid nostalgia reality snapshot solution
Imagination equals nostalgia for the past, the absent; it is the liquid solution in which art develops the snapshot of reality
fat imprisoned man thin wildly
Imprisoned in every fat man a thin one is wildly signaling to be let out
sex revenge war
In the sex-war, thoughtlessness is a weapon of the male, vindictiveness of the female. Both are reciprocally generated, but a woman's desire for revenge outlasts all other emotion. Yet when every unkind word about women has been said, we have still to admit, with Byron, that they are nicer than men. They are more devoted, more unselfish and more emotionally sincere. When the long fuse of cruelty, deceit and revenge is set alight, it is male thoughtlessness which has fired it.
greatness doubt when-in-doubt
When in doubt, choose greatness.