W. Somerset Maugham

Quotes

• “The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contr...”
• “The highest activities of consciousness have their origins in physical occurrences of the brain just as the loveliest me...”
• “The artist produces for the liberation of his soul. It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down ...”
• “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?”
• “I can imagine no more comfortable frame of mind for the conduct of life than a humorous resignation.”
• “It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
• “I write only when inspiration strikes. Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp.”
• “When you choose your friends, don't be short-changed by choosing personality over character.”
• “There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”
• “Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul.”
• “Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.”
• “You are not angry with people when you laugh at them. Humor teaches tolerance.”
• “The great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love.”
• “The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you.”
• “We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to.”
• “Only a mediocre person is always at his best.”
• “Impropriety is the soul of wit.”