W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)

Quotes

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

• We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to.

• There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.

• Life isn't long enough for love and art.

• I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.

• A woman can forgive a man for the harm he does her...but she can never forgive him for the sacrifices he makes on her account.

• Sometimes people carry to such perfection the mask they have assumed that in due course they actually become the person they seem.

• Common-sense appears to be only another name for the thoughtlessness of the unthinking. It is made of the prejudices of childhood, the idiosyncrasies of individual character and the opinion of the newspapers.

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

• 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.

• It is a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.

• Money is like a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five.

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

• There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.