William Maugham Quotes

"Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young."

"What makes old age hard to bear is not the failing of one's faculties, mental and physical, but the burden of one's memories"

"Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth."

"Old age is ready to undertake tasks that youth shirked because they would take too long."

"Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul."

"Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered."

"There are two good things in life freedom of thought and freedom of action"

"You can't learn too soon that the most useful thing about a principle is that it can always be sacrificed to expediency."

"Dying is a very dull, dreary affair. And my advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it."

"The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit."

"It is not difficult to be unconventional in the eyes of the world when your unconventionality is but the convention of your set"

"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."

"We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person."

"People ask you for criticism, but they only want praise."

"People ask for criticism, but they only want praise."

"It seems that the creative faculty and the critical faculty cannot exist together in their highest perfection."

"Poor Henry, he's spending eternity wandering round and round a stately park and the fence is just too high for him to peep over and they're having tea just too far away for him to hear what the countess is saying"

"It is dangerous to let the public behind the scenes. They are easily disillusioned and then they are angry with you, for it was the illusion they loved."

"If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?"

"Common sense and good nature will do a lot to make the pilgrimage of life not too difficult"