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Angus Wilson Quotes

Envy has the ugliness of a trapped rat that has gnawed its own foot in its effort to escape.

Envy has the ugliness of a trapped rat that has gnawed its own foot in its effort to escape.

Angus Wilson
Feet, Envy, Effort
Angus Wilson (1962). “The seven deadly sins”, Beaufort Books

The novelist must be his own most harsh critic and also his own most loving admirer and about both he must say nothing.

Angus Wilson
Writing, Novelists, Admirer

The opportunities for heroism are limited in this kind of world: the most people can do is sometimes not to be as weak as they've been at other times.

Angus Wilson
Hero, Opportunity, People
"Writers at Work: The Paris Review Interviews". Book edited by Malcolm Cowley, First Series, New York: Viking Press, p. 261, 1959.

All the seven deadly sins are self destroying, morbid appetites, but in their early stages at least, lust and gluttony, averice and sloth know some gratification, while anger and pride have power, even though that power eventually destroys itself. Envy is impotent, numbed with fear, never ceasing in its appetite, and it knows no gratification, but endless self torment. It has the ugliness of a trapped rat, which gnaws its own foot in an effort to escape.

Angus Wilson
Pride, Feet, Self

People are able to live with only half a heart, to live without real compassion, because they are able to use words that are only forms.

Angus Wilson
Real, Heart, Compassion
Angus Wilson, Kerry McSweeney (1984). “Diversity and Depth in Fiction: Selected Critical Writings of Angus Wilson”, Viking Adult

The roots of art and play lie very close together.

Angus Wilson
Art, Lying, Play
Angus Wilson (2012). “No Laughing Matter”, p.46, Faber & Faber

I have no concern for the common man except that he should not be so common.

Angus Wilson
Men, Common, Should
Angus Wilson (2012). “No Laughing Matter”, p.422, Faber & Faber

Life isn't just to be found, you have to work for it.

Angus Wilson
Found You, Found

All fiction for me is a kind of magic and trickery, a confidence trick, trying to make people believe something is true that isn't.

Angus Wilson
Believe, People, Magic

The impulse to write a novel comes from a momentary unified vision of life.

Angus Wilson
Writing, Vision, Impulse
Angus Wilson (1963). “The Wild Garden: Or, Speaking of Writing”, p.149, Univ of California Press

Once a Catholic always a Catholic.

Angus Wilson
Catholic
'The Wrong Set' (1949) p. 168

I opened the large central window of my office room to its full on the fine early May morning. Then I stood for a few moments, breathing in the soft, warm air that was charged with the scent of white lilacs below.

Angus Wilson
Morning, Air, Breathing
Angus Wilson (2015). “The Old Men at the Zoo”, p.7, Faber & Faber

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