Quotes on Literature

The American grips himself, at the very sources of his consciousness, in a grip of care: and then, to so much of the rest of life, is indifferent. Whereas, the European hasn't got so much care in him, so he cares much more for life and living.

If we wish to free ourselves from enslavement, we must choose freedom and the responsibility this entails.

There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.

Poets wish to profit or to please.

Justice prevails over transgression when she comes to the end of the race.

Women have seldom sufficient employment to silence their feelings; a round of little cares, or vain pursuits frittering away all strength of mind and organs, they become naturally only objects of sense.

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.

Happiness is a hard master, particularly other people's happiness.

Woe to that nation whose literature is disturbed by the intervention of power. Because that is not just a violation against "freedom of print," it is the closing down of the heart of the nation, a slashing to pieces of its memory.

Craving, not having, is the mother of a reckless giving of oneself.

That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you're not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.

The art of motherhood involves much silent, unobtrusive self-denial, an hourly devotion which finds no detail too minute.

When we get to wishing a great deal for ourselves, whatever we get soon turns into mere limitation and exclusion.

A precious, mouldering pleasure 't is To meet an antique book In just the dress his century wore; A privilege, I think, His venerable hand to take, And warming in our own, A passage back, or two, to make To times when he was young. His quaint opinions to inspect, His knowledge to unfold On what concerns our mutual mind, The literature of old.

People do not wish to appear foolish; to avoid the appearance of foolishness, they are willing to remain actually fools.

A man of eighty has outlived probably three new schools of painting, two of architecture and poetry and a hundred in dress.

All charming people have something to conceal, usually their total dependence on the appreciation of others.

If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink your eye at some homely girl.

A newspaper is a device for making the ignorant more ignorant and the crazy crazier.

If women believed in their husbands they would be a good deal happier and also a good deal more foolish.

A bad man is the sort who weeps every time he speaks of a good woman.