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
birthday time age
Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth.
order evil atheism
There is no explanation for evil. It must be looked upon as a necessary part of the order of the universe. To ignore it is childish, to bewail it senseless.
beautiful country aunt
We are like people living in a country whose language they know so little that, with all manner of beautiful and profound things to say, they are condemned to the banalities of the conversation manual. Their brain is seething with ideas, and they can only tell you that the umbrella of the gardener's aunt is in the house.
people laughing tolerance
You are not angry with people when you laugh at them. Humour teaches tolerance, and the humorist, with a smile and perhaps a sigh, is more likely to shrug his shoulders than to condemn.
pursue
You must not pursue a success, but fly from it.
loss littles illusion
Illusions are like umbrellas - you no sooner get them than you lose them, and the loss always leaves a little painful wound.
love-is elements essentials
The essential element of love is a belief in its own eternity.
important
The great trues are too important to be new.
reality doe states
A state of reverie does not avoid reality, it accedes to reality.
stories reason poor
A good story is obviously a difficult thing to invent, but its difficulty is a poor reason for despising it.
party men dry-bones
A man filled with meat turns his back on the dry bones of political doctrine. Fanatical devotion to the ruling party comes more readily from the materially deprived At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.
criticism destructive
But what is criticism? Criticism is purely destructive; anyone can destroy, but not everyone can build up.
thinking may doe
The novel may stimulate you to think. It may satisfy your aesthetic sense. It may arouse your moral emotions. But if it does not entertain you it is a bad novel.
destiny puppets strings
Money is the string with which a sardonic destiny directs the motions of its puppets.