the-love-that-lasts-longest-is-the-love-that-is-never-returned
when-you-choose-your-friends-dont-be-shortchanged-by-choosing-personality-over-character
it-is-not-wealth-one-asks-for-but-just-enough-to-preserve-ones-dignity-to-work-unhampered-to-be-generous-frank-and-independent
what-makes-old-age-hard-to-bear-is-not-the-failing-of-ones-faculties-mental-and-physical-but-the-burden-of-ones-memories
old-age-has-its-pleasures-which-though-different-are-not-less-than-the-pleasures-of-youth
every-production-of-an-artist-should-be-the-expression-of-an-adventure-of-his-soul
if-you-dont-change-your-beliefs-your-life-will-be-like-this-forever-is-that-good-news
money-is-the-string-with-which-a-sardonic-destiny-directs-the-motions-of-its-puppets
at-a-dinner-party-one-should-eat-wisely-but-not-too-well-and-talk-well-but-not-too-wisely
anyone-can-tell-the-truth-but-only-very-few-of-us-can-make-epigrams
the-great-trues-are-too-important-to-be-new-w-somerset-maugham
no-egoism-is-insufferable-as-that-christian-with-regard-to-his-soul-w-somerset-maugham
if-truth-is-value-it-is-because-it-is-true-not-because-it-is-brave-to-speak-it-w-somerset-maugham
He is not famous. It may be that he never will be. It may be that when his life at last comes to an end he will leave no more trace of his sojourn on earth than a stone thrown into a river leaves on the surface of the water. But it may be that the way of life that he has chosen for himself and the peculiar strength and sweetness of his character may have an ever-growing influence over his fellow men so that, long after his death perhaps, it may be realized that there lived in this age a very remarkable creature.
W. Somerset Maugham
he-is-not-famous-it-may-be-that-he-never-will-be-it-may-be-that-when-his-life-at-last-comes-to-end-he-will-leave-no-more-trace-his-sojourn-on-earth-w-somerset-maugham
famous quoteslife quotesend quotesleave quotestrace quotessojourn quotesearth quotesstone quotesthrown quotesriver quotesleaves quotessurface quoteswater quoteschosen quotespeculiar quotesstrength quotessweetness quotescharacter quotesevergrowing quotesinfluence quotesfellow quotesmen quoteslong quotesdeath quotesrealized quoteslived quotesage quotesremarkable quotescreature quotes
conscience-is-guardian-in-individual-rules-which-community-has-evolved-for-its-own-preservation-w-somerset-maugham
affection-is-created-by-habit-community-interests-convenience-desire-companionship-it-is-comfort-rather-than-exhilaration-w-somerset-maugham
a-man-ought-to-work-thats-what-hes-here-for-thats-how-he-contributes-to-welfare-community-w-somerset-maugham
Perhaps the most important use of money - It saves time. Life is so short, and there's so much to do, one can't afford to waste a minute; and just think how much you waste, for instance, in walking from place to place instead of going by bus and in going by bus instead of by taxi.
W. Somerset Maugham
perhaps-most-important-use-money-it-saves-time-life-is-short-theres-much-to-do-one-cant-afford-to-waste-minute-just-think-how-much-you-waste-w-somerset-maugham
art-is-manifestation-emotion-emotion-speaks-language-that-all-may-understand-w-somerset-maugham
when-youre-eighteen-your-emotions-are-violent-but-theyre-not-durable-w-somerset-maugham
I did not believe him capable of love. That is an emotion in which tenderness is an essential part, but Strickland had no tenderness either for himself or for others; there is in love a sense of weakness, a desire to protect, an eagerness to do good and to give pleasure--if not unselfishness, at all events a selfishness which marvellously conceals itself; it has in it a certain diffidence.
W. Somerset Maugham
i-did-not-believe-him-capable-love-that-is-emotion-in-which-tenderness-is-essential-part-but-strickland-had-no-tenderness-either-for-himself-for-w-somerset-maugham
capable quoteslove quotesemotion quotestenderness quotesessential quotespart quotesstrickland quoteslove quotessense quotesweakness quotesdesire quotesprotect quoteseagerness quotesgood quotesgive quotespleasureif quotesunselfishness quotesevents quotesselfishness quotesmarvellously quotesconceals quotesdiffidence quotes
The ballet. I saw in the fugitive beauty of a dancer's gesture a symbol of life. It was achieved at the cost of unending effort but, with all the forces of gravity against it, a fleeting poise in mid-air, a lovely attitude worthy to be made immortal in a bas-relief, it was lost as soon as it was gained and there remained no more than the memory of an exquisite emotion. So life, lived variously and largely, becomes a work of art only when brought to its beautiful conclusion and is reduced to nothingness in the moment when it arrives at perfection.
W. Somerset Maugham
the-ballet-i-saw-in-fugitive-beauty-dancers-gesture-symbol-life-it-was-achieved-at-cost-unending-effort-but-with-all-forces-gravity-against-w-somerset-maugham
ballet quotesfugitive quotesbeauty quotesdancers quotesgesture quotessymbol quoteslife quotesachieved quotescost quotesunending quoteseffort quotesforces quotesgravity quotesfleeting quotespoise quotesmidair quoteslovely quotesattitude quotesworthy quotesmade quotesimmortal quotesbasrelief quoteslost quotesgained quotesremained quotesmemory quotesexquisite quotesemotion quoteslife quoteslived quotesvariously quoteslargely quoteswork quotesart quotesbrought quotesbeautiful quotesconclusion quotesreduced quotesnothingness quotesmoment quotesarrives quotesperfection quotes
dying-is-most-hellishly-boresome-experience-in-world-particularly-when-it-entails-dying-natural-causes-w-somerset-maugham
there-is-only-one-way-to-win-hearts-that-is-to-make-oneself-like-unto-those-whom-one-would-be-loved-w-somerset-maugham
Why should you think that beauty, which is the most precious thing in the world, lies like a stone on the beach for the careless passer-by to pick up idly? Beauty is something wonderful and strange that the artist fashions out of the chaos of the world in the torment of his soul. And when he has made it, it is not given to all to know it. To recognize it you must repeat the adventure of the artist. It is a melody that he sings to you, and to hear it again in your own heart you want knowledge and sensitiveness and imagination.
W. Somerset Maugham
why-should-you-think-that-beauty-which-is-most-precious-thing-in-world-lies-like-stone-on-beach-for-careless-passerby-to-pick-up-idly-beauty-is-w-somerset-maugham
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in-heaven-when-blessed-use-telephone-they-will-say-what-they-have-to-say-not-word-besides-w-somerset-maugham
the-average-american-can-get-into-kingdom-heaven-much-more-easily-than-he-can-get-into-boulevard-st-germain-w-somerset-maugham
i-would-sooner-read-timetable-catalogue-than-nothing-at-all-they-are-much-more-entertaining-than-half-novels-that-are-written-w-somerset-maugham
 within his gates; and it keeps watch over him, vigilant always in the interests of its master to crush any half-formed desire to break away from the herd.)
Man's desire for the approval of his fellows is so strong, his dread of their censure so violent, that he himself has brought his enemy (conscience) within his gates; and it keeps watch over him, vigilant always in the interests of its master to crush any half-formed desire to break away from the herd.
W. Somerset Maugham
mans-desire-for-approval-his-fellows-is-strong-his-dread-their-censure-violent-that-he-himself-has-brought-his-enemy-conscience-within-his-gates-w-somerset-maugham
But there are people who take salt with their coffee. They say it gives a tang, a savour, which is peculiar and fascinating. In the same way there are certain places, surrounded by a halo of romance, to which the inevitable disillusionment you experience on seeing them gives a singular spice. You had expected something wholly beautiful and you get an impression which is infinitely more complicated than any that beauty can give you. It is the weakness in the character of a great man which may make him less admirable but certainly more interesting. Nothing had prepared me for Honolulu...
W. Somerset Maugham
but-there-are-people-who-take-salt-with-their-coffee-they-say-it-gives-tang-savour-which-is-peculiar-fascinating-in-same-way-there-are-certain-w-somerset-maugham
people quotessalt quotescoffee quotestang quotessavour quotespeculiar quotesfascinating quotesplaces quotessurrounded quoteshalo quotesromance quotesinevitable quotesdisillusionment quotesexperience quotessingular quotesspice quotesexpected quoteswholly quotesbeautiful quotesimpression quotesinfinitely quotescomplicated quotesbeauty quotesgive quotesweakness quotescharacter quotesgreat quotesman quotesmake quotesadmirable quotesinteresting quotesprepared quoteshonolulu quotes
You know, there are two good things in life, freedom of thought and freedom of action. In France you get freedom of action: you can do what you like and nobody bothers, but you must think like everybody else. In Germany you must do what everybody else does, but you may think as you choose. They're both very good things. I personally prefer freedom of thought. But in England you get neither: you're ground down by convention. You can't think as you like and you can't act as you like. That's because it's a democratic nation. I expect America's worse.
W. Somerset Maugham
you-know-there-are-two-good-things-in-life-freedom-thought-freedom-action-in-france-you-get-freedom-action-you-can-do-what-you-like-nobody-w-somerset-maugham
good quotesthings quoteslife quotesfreedom quotesthought quotesaction quotesfrance quotesaction quotesbothers quotesgermany quoteschoose quotesthings quotespersonally quotesprefer quotesthought quotesengland quotesground quotesconvention quotesact quotesdemocratic quotesnation quotesexpect quotesamericas quotesworse quotes
life-is-largely-controlled-by-chance-that-its-conduct-can-be-but-perpetual-improvisation-w-somerset-maugham
the-secret-to-life-is-meaningless-unless-you-discover-it-yourself-w-somerset-maugham
I don't understand anything. Life is so strange. I feel like some one who's lived all his life by a duck-pond and suddenly is shown the sea. It makes me a little breathless, and yet it fills me with elation. I don't want to die, I want to live. I'm beginning to feel a new courage. I feel like one of those old sailors who set sail for undiscovered seas and I think my soul hankers for the unknown.
W. Somerset Maugham
i-dont-understand-anything-life-is-strange-i-feel-like-some-one-whos-lived-all-his-life-by-duckpond-suddenly-is-shown-sea-it-makes-me-little-w-somerset-maugham
understand quoteslife quotesstrange quotesfeel quoteslived quoteslife quotesduckpond quotessuddenly quotesshown quotessea quotesmakes quotesbreathless quotesfills quoteselation quotesdie quoteslive quotesbeginning quotescourage quotessailors quotesset quotessail quotesundiscovered quotesseas quotessoul quoteshankers quotesunknown quotes
the-most-valuable-thing-i-have-learned-from-life-is-to-regret-nothing-w-somerset-maugham
![Life is really very fantastic, and one has to have a peculiar sense of humour to see the fun of it. [Virtue] -W. Somerset Maugham](/quotes/805056.jpg "Life is really very fantastic, and one has to have a peculiar sense of humour to see the fun of it. [Virtue] -W. Somerset Maugham")
life-is-really-fantastic-one-has-to-have-peculiar-sense-humour-to-see-fun-it-virtue-w-somerset-maugham
the-audience-is-not-least-important-actor-in-play-if-it-will-not-do-its-allotted-share-play-falls-to-pieces-w-somerset-maugham
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.
W. Somerset Maugham
all-important-persons-have-about-them-someone-in-subordinate-position-who-has-their-ear-these-dependents-are-susceptible-to-slights-when-they-are-w-somerset-maugham
one-cannot-find-peace-in-work-in-pleasure-in-world-in-convent-but-only-in-ones-soul-w-somerset-maugham
This love was a torment, and he resented bitterly the subjugation in which it held him; he was a prisoner and he longed for freedom. Sometimes he awoke in the morning and felt nothing; his soul leaped, for he thought he was free; he loved no longer; but in a little while, as he grew wide awake, the pain settled in his heart, and he knew that he was not cured yet.
W. Somerset Maugham
this-love-was-torment-he-resented-bitterly-subjugation-in-which-it-held-him-he-was-prisoner-he-longed-for-freedom-sometimes-he-awoke-in-morning-w-somerset-maugham
love quotestorment quotesresented quotesbitterly quotessubjugation quotesheld quotesprisoner quoteslonged quotesfreedom quotesawoke quotesmorning quotesfelt quotessoul quotesleaped quotesthought quotesfree quotesloved quoteslonger quotesgrew quoteswide quotesawake quotespain quotessettled quotesheart quotesknew quotescured quotes
I know that I shall die struggling for breath, and I know that I shall be horribly afraid. I know that I shall not be able to keep myself from regretting bitterly the life that has brought me to such a pass; but I disown that regret. I now, weak, old, diseased, poor, dying, hold still my soul in my hands, and I regret nothing.
W. Somerset Maugham
i-know-that-i-shall-die-struggling-for-breath-i-know-that-i-shall-be-horribly-afraid-i-know-that-i-shall-not-be-able-to-keep-myself-from-regretting-w-somerset-maugham
The tragedy of love is not death or separation. How long do you think it would have been before one or other of them ceased to care? Oh, it is dreadfully bitter to look at a woman whom you have loved with all your heart and soul, so that you felt you could not bear to let her out of your sight, and realize that you would not mind if you never saw her again. The tragedy of love is indifference.
W. Somerset Maugham
the-tragedy-love-is-not-death-separation-how-long-do-you-think-it-would-have-been-before-one-other-them-ceased-to-care-oh-it-is-dreadfully-bitter-w-somerset-maugham
i-now-weak-old-diseased-poor-dying-hold-still-my-soul-in-my-hands-i-regret-nothing-w-somerset-maugham
The Americans, who are the most efficient people on the earth, have carried [phrase-making] to such a height of perfection and have invented so wide a range of pithy and hackneyed phrases that they can carry on an amusing and animated conversation without giving a moment's reflection to what they are saying and so leave their minds free to consider the more important matters of big business and fornication.
W. Somerset Maugham
the-americans-who-are-most-efficient-people-on-earth-have-carried-phrasemaking-to-such-height-perfection-have-invented-wide-range-pithy-w-somerset-maugham
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no-egoism-is-insufferable-as-christian-with-regard-to-his-soul-w-somerset-maugham
some-us-look-for-way-in-opium-some-in-god-some-us-in-whiskey-some-in-love-it-is-all-same-way-it-leads-nowhither-w-somerset-maugham
I used to listen to the monks repeating the Lord's Prayer; I wondered how they could continue to pray without misgiving to their heavenly father to give them their daily bread. Do children beseech their earthly father to give them sustenance? They expect him to do it, they neither feel gratitude to him for doing so nor need to, and we have only blame for a man who brings children into the world that he can't or won't provide for. It seemed to me that if an omnipotent creator was not prepared to provide for his creatures with the necessities, material and spiritual, of existence he'd have done better not to create them.
W. Somerset Maugham
i-used-to-listen-to-monks-repeating-lords-prayer-i-wondered-how-they-could-continue-to-pray-without-misgiving-to-their-heavenly-father-to-give-them-their-daily-bread-do-children-
listen quotesmonks quotesrepeating quoteslords quotesprayer quoteswondered quotescontinue quotespray quotesmisgiving quotesheavenly quotesfather quotesgive quotesdaily quotesbread quoteschildren quotesbeseech quotesearthly quotessustenance quotesexpect quotesfeel quotesgratitude quotesblame quotesman quotesbrings quotesworld quotesprovide quotesomnipotent quotescreator quotesprepared quotescreatures quotesnecessities quotesmaterial quotesspiritual quotesexistence quoteshed quotescreate quotes
You've been brought up like a gentleman and a Christian, and I should be false to the trust laid upon me by your dead father and mother if I allowed you to expose yourself to such temptation.' Well, I know I'm not a Christian and I'm beginning to doubt whether I'm a gentleman, ' said Philip.
W. Somerset Maugham
youve-been-brought-up-like-gentleman-christian-i-should-be-false-to-trust-laid-upon-me-by-your-dead-father-mother-if-i-allowed-you-to-expose-yourself-to-such-temptation-well-i-kn
Supposing there is no life everlasting. Think what it means if death is really the end of all things. They've given up all for nothing. They've been cheated. They're dupes." Waddington reflected for a little while. "I wonder if it matters what they have aimed at is illusion. Their lives are in themselves beautiful. I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then men create out of the chaos. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books the write, and the lives they lead. Of all these the richest beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art.
W. Somerset Maugham
supposing-there-is-no-life-everlasting-think-what-it-means-if-death-is-really-end-all-things-theyve-given-up-all-for-nothing-theyve-been-cheated-theyre-dupes-waddington-reflected
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[The goal is] "liberation from the bondage of rebirth. According to the Vedantists the self, which they call the atman and we call the soul, is distinct from the body and its senses, distinct from the mind and its intelligence; it is not part of the Absolute, for the Absolute, being infinite, can have no parts but the Absolute itself. It is uncreated; it has existed form eternity and when at least it has cast off the seven veils of ignorance will return to the infinitude from which it came. It is like a drop of water that has arisen from the sea, and in a shower has fallen into a puddle, then drifts into a brook, finds its way into a stream, after that into a river, passing through mountain gorges and wide plains, winding this way and that, obstructed by rocks and fallen trees, till at least it reaches the boundless seas from which it rose." "But that poor little drop of water, when it has once more become one with the sea, has surely lost its individuality." Larry grinned. "You want to taste sugar, you don't want to become sugar. What is individuality but the expression of our egoism? Until the soul has shed the last trace of that it cannot become one with the Absolute." "You talk very familiarly of the Absolute, Larry, and it's an imposing word. What does it actually signify to you?" "Reality. You can't say what it is ; you can only say what it isn't. It's inexpressible. The Indians call it Brahman. It's not a person, it's not a thing, it's not a cause. It has no qualities. It transcends permanence and change; whole and part, finite and infinite. It is eternal because its completeness and perfection are unrelated to time. It is truth and freedom." "Golly, " I said to myself, but to Larry: "But how can a purely intellectual conception be a solace to the suffering human race? Men have always wanted a personal God to whom they can turn in their distress for comfort and encouragement." "It may be that at some far distant day greater insight will show them that they must look for comfort and encouragement in their own souls. I myself think that the need to worship is no more than the survival of an old remembrance of cruel gods that had to be propitiated. I believe that God is within me or nowhere. If that's so, whom or what am I to worship-myself? Men are on different levels of spiritual development, and so the imagination of India has evolved the manifestations of the Absolute that are known as Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and by a hundred other names. The Absolute is in Isvara, the creator and ruler of the world, and it is in the humble fetish before which the peasant in his sun-baked field places the offering of a flower. The multitudinous gods of India are but expedients to lead to the realization that the self is one with the supreme self.
W. Somerset Maugham
the-goal-is-liberation-from-bondage-rebirth-according-to-vedantists-self-which-they-call-atman-we-call-soul-is-distinct-from-body-its-senses-distinct-from-mind-its-intelligence-i
goal quotesliberation quotesbondage quotesrebirth quotesvedantists quotescall quotesatman quotessoul quotesdistinct quotesbody quotessenses quotesmind quotesintelligence quotespart quotesabsolute quotesinfinite quotesparts quotesabsolute quotesuncreated quotesexisted quotesform quoteseternity quotescast quotesveils quotesignorance quotesreturn quotesinfinitude quotesdrop quoteswater quotesarisen quotessea quotesshower quotesfallen quotespuddle quotesdrifts quotesbrook quotesfinds quotesstream quotesriver quotespassing quotesmountain quotesgorges quoteswide quotesplains quoteswinding quotesobstructed quotesrocks quotestrees quotestill quotesreaches quotesboundless quotesseas quotesrose quotespoor quoteswater quotessurely quoteslost quotesindividuality quoteslarry quotesgrinned quotestaste quotessugar quotessugar quotesindividuality quotesexpression quotesegoism quotessoul quotesshed quotestrace quotesabsolute quotestalk quotesfamiliarly quoteslarry quotesimposing quotesword quotessignify quotesreality quotesinexpressible quotesindians quotesbrahman quotesperson quotesthing quotesqualities quotestranscends quotespermanence quoteschange quotespart quotesfinite quotesinfinite quoteseternal quotescompleteness quotesperfection quotesunrelated quotestime quotestruth quotesfreedom quotesgolly quoteslarry quotespurely quotesintellectual quotesconception quotessolace quotessuffering quoteshuman quotesrace quotesmen quoteswanted quotespersonal quotesgod quotesturn quotesdistress quotescomfort quotesencouragement quotesdistant quotesday quotesgreater quotesinsight quotesshow quotesencouragement quotessouls quotesworship quotessurvival quotesremembrance quotescruel quotesgods quotespropitiated quotesworshipmyself quoteslevels quotesspiritual quotesdevelopment quotesimagination quotesindia quotesevolved quotesmanifestations quotesbrahma quotesvishnu quotessiva quoteshundred quotesnames quotesisvara quotescreator quotesruler quotesworld quoteshumble quotesfetish quotespeasant quotessunbaked quotesfield quotesplaces quotesoffering quotesflower quotesmultitudinous quotesexpedients quoteslead quotesrealization quotessupreme quotes
Patsy had asked him if he had had adventures in Paris and he had truthfully answered no. It was a fact that he had done nothing; his father thought he had had a devil of a time and was afraid he had contracted a venereal disease, and he hadn't even had a woman; only one thing had happened to him, it was rather curious when you came to think of it, and he didn't just then quite know what to do about it: the bottom had fallen out of his world.
W. Somerset Maugham
patsy-had-asked-him-if-he-had-had-adventures-in-paris-he-had-truthfully-answered-no-it-was-fact-that-he-had-done-nothing-his-father-thought-he-had-had-devil-time-was-afraid-he-ha
the-dead-look-terribly-dead-when-theyre-dead-w-somerset-maugham
a-little-smoke-lost-in-air-that-was-life-man-w-somerset-maugham
But that wasn't the chief thing that bothered me: I couldn't reconcile myself with that preoccupation with sin that, so far as I could tell, was never entirely absent from the monks' thoughts. I'd known a lot of fellows in the air corps. Of course they got drunk when they got a chance, and had a girl whenever they could and used foul language; we had one or two had hats: one fellow was arrested for passing rubber cheques and was sent to prison for six months; it wasn't altogether his fault; he'd never had any money before, and when he got more than he'd ever dreamt of having, it went to his head. I'd known had men in Paris and when I got back to Chicago I knew more, but for the most part their badness was due to heredity, which they couldn't help, or to their environment, which they didn't choose: I'm not sure that society wasn't more responsible for their crimes than they were. If I'd been God I couldn't have brought myself to condemn one of them, not even the worst, to eternal damnation. Father Esheim was broad-minded; he thought that hell was the deprivation of God's presence, but if that is such an intolerable punishment that it can justly be called hell, can one conceive that a good God can inflict it? After all, he created men, if he so created them that ti was possible for them to sin, it was because he willed it. If I trained a dog to fly at the throat of any stranger who came into by back yard, it wouldn't be fair to beat him when he did so. If an all-good and all-powerful God created the world, why did he create evil? The monks said, so that man by conquering the wickedness in him, by resisting temptation, by accepting pain and sorrow and misfortune as the trials sent by God to purify him, might at long last be made worthy to receive his grace. It seem to me like sending a fellow with a message to some place and just to make it harder for him you constructed a maze that he had to get through, then dug a moat that he had to swim and finally built a wall that he had to scale. I wasn't prepared to believe in an all-wise God who hadn't common sense. I didn't see why you shouldn't believe in a God who hadn't created the world, buyt had to make the best of the bad job he'd found, a being enormously better, wiser and greater than man, who strove with the evil he hadn't made and who might be hoped in the end to overcome it. But on the other hand I didn't see why you should.
W. Somerset Maugham
but-that-wasnt-chief-thing-that-bothered-me-i-couldnt-reconcile-myself-with-that-preoccupation-with-sin-that-far-as-i-could-tell-was-never-entirely-absent-from-monks-thoughts-id-
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to-acquire-habit-reading-is-to-construct-for-yourself-refuge-from-almost-all-miseries-life-w-somerset-maugham
one-can-be-much-in-love-with-woman-without-wishing-to-spend-rest-ones-life-with-her-w-somerset-maugham
I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then men create out of the chaos. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Of all these the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art.
W. Somerset Maugham
i-have-idea-that-only-thing-which-makes-it-possible-to-regard-this-world-we-live-in-without-disgust-is-beauty-which-now-then-men-create-out-chaos-the-pictures-they-paint-music-th
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he-did-not-care-upon-what-terms-he-satisfied-his-passion-he-had-even-mad-melodramatic-idea-to-drug-her-w-somerset-maugham
Most of these stories are on the tragic side. But the reader must not suppose that the incidents I have narrated were of common occurrence. The vast majority of these people, government servants, planters, and traders, who spent their working lives in Malaya were ordinary people ordinarily satisfied with their station in life. They did the jobs they were paid to do more or less competently, . They were as happy with their wives as are most married couples. They led humdrum lives and did very much the same things every day. Sometimes by way of a change they got a little shooting; but at a rule, after they had done their day's work, they played tennis if there were people to play with, went to the club at sundown if there was a club in the vicinity, drank in moderation, and played bridge. They had their little tiffs, their little jealousies, their little flirtations, their little celebrations. They were good, decent, normal people. I respect, and even admire, such people, but they are not the sort of people I can write stories about. I write stories about people who have some singularity of character which suggests to me that they may be capable of behaving in such a way as to give me an idea that I can make use of, or about people who by some accident or another, accident of temperament, accident of environment, have been involved in unusual contingencies. But, I repeat, they are the exception.
W. Somerset Maugham
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He had few illusions, for here are some of the things that life had taught him: "Men hate those whom they have injured; men love those whom they have benefited; men naturally avoid their benefactors; men are universally actuated by self-interest; gratitude is a lovely sense of expected benefits; promises are never forgotten by those to whom they are made, usually by those who make them.
W. Somerset Maugham
he-had-few-illusions-for-here-are-some-things-that-life-had-taught-him-men-hate-those-whom-they-have-injured-men-love-those-whom-they-have-benefited-men-naturally-avoid-their-ben
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I was perturbed by the suspicion that the anguish of love contemned was alloyed in her broken heart with the pangs, sordid in my young mind, of wounded vanity. I had not yet learnt how contradictory is human nature; I did not know how much pose there is in the sincere. how much baseness in the noble, nor how much goodness in the reprobate.
W. Somerset Maugham
i-was-perturbed-by-suspicion-that-anguish-love-contemned-was-alloyed-in-her-broken-heart-with-pangs-sordid-in-my-young-mind-wounded-vanity-i-had-not-yet-learnt-how-contradictory-
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he-found-that-it-was-easy-to-make-heroic-gesture-but-hard-to-abide-by-its-results-w-somerset-maugham
Perhaps her faults and follies, the unhappiness she had suffered, were not entirely vain if she could follow the path that now she dimly discerned before her, not the path that kind funny old Waddington had spoken of that led nowhither, but the path those dear nuns at the convent followed so humbly, the path that led to peace.
W. Somerset Maugham
perhaps-her-faults-follies-unhappiness-she-had-suffered-were-not-entirely-vain-if-she-could-follow-path-that-now-she-dimly-discerned-before-her-not-path-that-kind-funny-old-waddi
It gives him spiritual freedom. To him life is a tragedy and by his gift of creation he enjoys the catharsis a purging of pity and terror, Which Aristotle tells is the object of art. Everything is transformed by his power into material and by writing it he can overcome it. Everything is grist to his mill... The artist is the only free man.
W. Somerset Maugham
it-gives-him-spiritual-freedom-to-him-life-is-tragedy-by-his-gift-creation-he-enjoys-catharsis-purging-pity-terror-which-aristotle-tells-is-object-art-everything-is-transformed-b
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its-no-use-crying-over-spilt-milk-because-all-forces-universe-were-bent-on-spilling-it-w-somerset-maugham
self-sacrifice is a passion so overwhelming that beside it even lust and hunger are trifling. It whirls its victim to destruction in the highest affirmation of his personality. The object doesn't matter; it may be worthwhile or it may be worthless. No wine is so intoxicating, no love so shattering, no vice so compelling. When he sacrifices himself man for a moment is greater than God, for how can God, infinite and omnipotent, sacrifice himself? At best he can only sacrifice his only begotten son.
W. Somerset Maugham
selfsacrifice-is-passion-overwhelming-that-beside-it-even-lust-hunger-are-trifling-it-whirls-its-victim-to-destruction-in-highest-affirmation-his-personality-the-object-doesnt-ma
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unless-love-is-passion-its-not-love-but-something-else-passion-thrives-not-on-satisfaction-but-on-impediment-w-somerset-maugham
I do not attach any exaggerated importance to my poetical works. Life is there to be lived rather than to be written about. My aim is to search out the manifold experience that it offers, wringing from each moment what of emotion it presents. I look upon my writing as a graceful accomplishment which does not absorb but rather adds pleasure to existence. And as for posterity-damn posterity.
W. Somerset Maugham
i-do-not-attach-any-exaggerated-importance-to-my-poetical-works-life-is-there-to-be-lived-rather-than-to-be-written-about-my-aim-is-to-search-out-manifold-experience-that-it-offe
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often-best-way-to-overcome-desire-is-to-satisfy-it-w-somerset-maugham
himself-ugly-man-insignificant-appearance-he-prized-highly-comeliness-in-others-w-somerset-maugham
Everything passed, and what trace of its passage remained? It seemed to Kitty that they were all, the human race, like the drops of water in that river and they flowed on, each so close to the other and yet so far apart, a nameless flood, to the sea. When all things lasted so short a time and nothing mattered very much, it seemed pitiful that men, attaching an absurd importance to trivial objects, should make themselves and one another so unhappy.
W. Somerset Maugham
everything-passed-what-trace-its-passage-remained-it-seemed-to-kitty-that-they-were-all-human-race-like-drops-water-in-that-river-they-flowed-on-each-close-to-other-yet-far-apart
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men-seek-but-one-thing-in-life-their-pleasure-w-somerset-maugham
It is clear that men accept an immediate pain rather than an immediate pleasure, but only because they expect a greater pleasure in the future. Often the pleasure is illusory, but their error in calculation is no refutation of the rule. You are puzzled because you cannot get over the idea that pleasures are only of the sense; but, child, a man who dies for his country dies because he likes it as surely as a man eats pickled cabbage because he likes it.
W. Somerset Maugham
it-is-clear-that-men-accept-immediate-pain-rather-than-immediate-pleasure-but-only-because-they-expect-greater-pleasure-in-future-often-pleasure-is-illusory-but-their-error-in-ca
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Jeremy Bentham startled the world many years ago by stating in effect that if the amount of pleasure obtained from each be equal there is nothing to choose between poetry and push-pin. Since few people now know what push-pin is, I may explain that it is a child's game in which one player tries to push his pin across that of another player, and if he succeeds and then is able by pressing down on the two pins with the ball of his thumb to lift them off the table he wins possession of his opponent's pin. [... ] The indignant retort to Bentham's statement was that spiritual pleasures are obviously higher than physical pleasures. But who say so? Those who prefer spiritual pleasures. They are in a miserable minority, as they acknowledge when they declare that the gift of aesthetic appreciation is a very rare one. The vast majority of men are, as we know, both by necessity and choice preoccupied with material considerations. Their pleasures are material. They look askance at those who spent their lives in the pursuit of art. That is why they have attached a depreciatory sense to the word aesthete, which means merely one who has a special appreciation of beauty. How are we going to show that they are wrong? How are we going to show that there is something to choose between poetry and push-pin? I surmise that Bentham chose push-pin for its pleasant alliteration with poetry. Let us speak of lawn tennis. It is a popular game which many of us can play with pleasure. It needs skill and judgement, a good eye and a cool head. If I get the same amount of pleasure out of playing it as you get by looking at Titian's 'Entombment of Christ' in the Louvre, by listening to Beethoven's 'Eroica' or by reading Eliot's 'Ash Wednesday', how are you going to prove that your pleasure is better and more refined than mine? Only, I should say, by manifesting that this gift you have of aesthetic appreciation has a moral effect on your character.
W. Somerset Maugham
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they-will-not-disappoint-you-you-will-look-upon-them-more-charitably-men-seek-but-one-thing-in-lifetheir-pleasure-w-somerset-maugham
to-eat-well-in-england-you-should-have-breakfast-three-times-day-w-somerset-maugham
it-requires-feminine-temperament-to-repeat-same-thing-three-times-with-unabated-zest-w-somerset-maugham
For men, as a rule, love is but an episode which takes place among the other affairs of the day, and the emphasis laid on it in novels gives it an importance which is untrue to life. There are few men to whom it is the most important thing in the world, and they are not the very interesting ones; even women, with whom the subject is of paramount interest, have a contempt for them.
W. Somerset Maugham
for-men-as-rule-love-is-but-episode-which-takes-place-among-other-affairs-day-emphasis-laid-on-it-in-novels-gives-it-importance-which-is-untrue-to-life-there-are-few-men-to-whom-
men quotesrule quoteslove quotesepisode quotestakes quotesplace quotesaffairs quotesday quotesemphasis quoteslaid quotesnovels quotesimportance quotesuntrue quoteslife quotesmen quotesimportant quotesthing quotesworld quotesinteresting quoteswomen quotessubject quotesparamount quotesinterest quotescontempt quotes
