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
tables half novel
I would sooner read a time-table or a catalogue than nothing at all. They are much more entertaining than half the novels that are written.
carry discovered earliest nonsense wiser
From the earliest times the old have rubbed it into the young that they are wiser than they, and before the young had discovered what nonsense this was they were old too, and it profited them to carry on the imposture.
english expect hope perfection women
Perfection is what American women expect to find in their husbands... but English women only hope to find in their butlers.
happens love man woman
Love is what happens to a man and woman who don't know each other.
befall boy bring consequences few worse
Few misfortunes can befall a boy which bring worse consequences than to have a really affectionate mother.
cute chance life-is
Life is so largely controlled by chance that its conduct can be but a perpetual improvisation.
love men knows
Love is what happens to men and women who don't know each other.
knows rules three writers-and-writing
There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately no one knows what they are.
assumed clinging conscious difference duchess lady order persons rank station
Lady Hodmarsh and the duchess immediately assumed the clinging affability that persons of rank assume with their inferiors in order to show them that they are not in the least conscious of any difference in station between them.
illusion lost youth
It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who has lost it.
ease freedom lose soon thinks
Any nation that thinks more of its ease and comfort than its freedom will soon lose its freedom; and the ironical thing about it is that it will lose its ease and comfort too.
foolish forty man million people wise
If forty million people say a foolish thing it does not become a wise one, but the wise man is foolish to give them the lie.
bitter common failure people spoils success
The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic, and self-complacent is erroneous, on the contrary, it makes them for the most part, humble, tolerant, and kind. Failure makes people bitter and cruel.
critic great human learn philosophy
The great critic must be a philosopher, for from philosophy he will learn serenity, impartiality, and the transitoriness of human things.