W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham CHwas a British playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPlaywright
Date of Birth25 January 1874
ambition lunch smoking
I promised myself that if ever I had some money that I would savor a cigar each day after lunch and dinner. This is the only resolution of my youth that I have kept, and the only realized ambition which has not brought disillusion.
men long age
By the time a man notices that he is no longer young, his youth has long since left him.
faults sin shocked
It must be a fault in me that I am not gravely shocked at the sins of others unless they personally affect me.
teacher teaching learning
You learn more quickly under the guidance of experienced teachers. You waste a lot of time going down blind alleys if you have no one to lead you.
judging age mature
We who are of mature age seldom suspect how unmercifully and yet with what insight the very young judge us.
love believe men
The nature of men and women - their essential nature - is so vile and despicable that if you were to portray a person as he really is, no one would believe you.
passion self might
self-control might be as passionate and as active as the surrender to passion...
selfish fool loose-women
I prefer a loose woman to a selfish one and a wanton to a fool.
powerful character expression
Culture is not just an ornament; it is the expression of a nation's character, and at the same time it is a powerful instrument to mould character. The end of culture is right living.
falling-in-love heart men
Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
fool reader unsafe
It is unsafe to take your reader for more of a fool than he is.
thinking mind important
All important persons have about them someone in a subordinate position who has their ear. These dependents are very susceptible to slights, and, when they are not treated as they think they should be, will by well-directed shafts, constantly repeated, poison the minds of their patrons against those who have provoked their animosity. It is well to keep in with them.
taken study found
I like manual labor. Whenever I've got waterlogged with study, I've taken a spell of it and found it spiritually invigorating.
christian soul atheism
No egoism is so insufferable as that of the Christian with regard to his soul.