J. B. Priestley
J. B. Priestley
John Boynton Priestley, OM, was an English author, novelist, playwright, scriptwriter, social commentator, man of letters and broadcaster...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth13 September 1894
believe men museums
If there was a little room somewhere in the British Museum that contained only about twenty exhibits and good lighting, easy chairs, and a notice imploring you to smoke, I believe I should become a museum man.
dream real self
But the point is, now, at this moment, or any moment, we're only cross-sections of our real selves. What we really are is the whole stretch of ourselves, all our time, and when we come to the end of this life, all those selves, all our time, will be us - the real you, the real me. And then perhaps we'll find ourselves in another time, which is only another kind of dream.
fashion bullying prayer
Our dourest parsons, who followed the nonconformist fashion of long extemporary prayers, always seemed to me to be bent on bullying God.
differences politics way
In a world shaped and colored more and more by politicians, the nations meet politically, and hardly any other way to settle their differences.
people fancy hierarchy
I fancy that the Hell of Too Many People would occupy a respectable place in the hierarchy of infernal regions.
sensitive sincere goodness
The point is to be good-to be sensitive and sincere.
revenge animal prison
We must beware the revenge of the starved senses, the embittered animal in its prison.
age delight youth
One of the delights known to age, and beyond the grasp of youth, is that of Not Going.
pregnancy writing might
Much of writing might be described as mental pregnancy with successive difficult deliveries.
teenager war politician
Like its politicians and its wars, society has the teenagers it deserves.
apples tree plums
We complain and complain, but we have lived and seen the blossom -apple, pear, cherry, plum, almond blossom - in the sun; and the best among us cannot pretend they deserve - or could contrive - anything better.
happiness smile laughter
Comedy, we may say, is society protecting itself - with a smile.
travel time holiday
A good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are vaguer than yours.
good-night men blood
We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.