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.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Perfection can lead to monotony and lack of excitement.
W. Somerset Maugham's quote suggests that striving for perfection may result in a loss of vitality and spontaneity. When something is perfect, it can become unengaging or dull, as it lacks the imperfections and variations that often bring character and interest to life.
Themes
PerfectionDullnessMonotonyImperfectionVitality
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creativity, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of embracing flaws.
More from W. Somerset Maugham
All quotes βCronshaw stopped for a moment to drink. He had pondered for twenty years the problem whether he loved liquor because it made him talk or whether he loved conversation because it made him thirsty.
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Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
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I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
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There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
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