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
reading book reading-books
I would sooner read a timetable or a catalog than nothing at all.
inspirational life excess
Excess on occasion is exhilarating. It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.
time past thinking
I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
perfection dull irony
Perfection is a trifle dull. It is not the least of life's ironies that this, which we all aim at, is better not quite achieved.
illusion resignation asks
What do we any of us have but our illusions? And what do we ask of others but that we be allowed to keep them?
wall mountain valleys
There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
funny reading book
The great American novel has not only already been written, it has already been rejected.
beautiful men hands
She’s wonderful. Tell her I’ve never seen such beautiful hands. I wonder what she sees in you.” Waddington, smiling, translated the question. “She says I’m good.” “As if a woman ever loved a man for his virtue,” Kitty mocked.
stress men weak-man
Like all weak men he laid an exaggerated stress on not changing one's mind.
writing
You cannot write unless you write much.
motivational change believe
If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?
inspirational life character
It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive.
teaching diversity social-justice
Tradition is a guide and not a jailer.
inspirational life friendship
We know our friends by their defects rather than by their merits.