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W. Somerset Maugham Quotes - Page 5

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He had heard people speak contemptuously of money: he wondered if they had ever tried to do without it.

He had heard people speak contemptuously of money: he wondered if they had ever tried to do without it.

W. Somerset Maugham
Money, People, Speak
W. Somerset Maugham (2013). “The Essential W. Somerset Maugham Collection”, p.2219, eBookIt.com

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

W. Somerset Maugham
People, Perfection, Sometimes
W. Somerset Maugham (2013). “The Essential W. Somerset Maugham Collection”, p.1397, eBookIt.com

If nobody spoke unless he had something to say, the human race would very soon lose the use of speech.

W. Somerset Maugham
Race, Silence, Use

The essential element of love is a belief in its own eternity.

W. Somerset Maugham
Love Is, Elements, Essentials
W. Somerset Maugham (2013). “The Essential W. Somerset Maugham Collection”, p.2527, eBookIt.com

Unfortunately sometimes one can't do what one thinks is right without making someone else unhappy.

W. Somerset Maugham
Thinking, Unhappy, Sometimes

There was once a professor of law who said to his students. When you are fighting a case, if you have facts on your side hammer them into the jury, and if you have the law on your side hammer it into the judge. But if you have neither the facts nor the law, asked one of his listeners? Then hammer the hell into the table, answered the professor.

W. Somerset Maugham
Fighting, Your Side, Law
W. Somerset Maugham (2011). “A Writer's Notebook”, p.131, Random House

I want a girl because I want to bring her up so that she shan't make the mistakes I've made. When I look back upon the girl I was I hate myself. But I never had a chance. I'm going to bring up my daughter so that she's free and can stand on her own feet. I´m not going to bring a child into the world, and love her, and bring her up, just so that some man may want to sleep with her so much that he's willing to provide her with board and lodging for the rest of her life.

W. Somerset Maugham
Girl, Daughter, Children
W. Somerset Maugham (2009). “The Painted Veil”, p.204, Random House

Man's desire for the approval of his fellows is so strong, his dread of their censure so violent, that he himself has brought his enemy (conscience) within his gates; and it keeps watch over him, vigilant always in the interests of its master to crush any half-formed desire to break away from the herd.

W. Somerset Maugham
Crush, Strong, Men

I travel because I like to move from place to place, I enjoy the sense of freedom it gives me, it pleases me to be rid of ties, responsibilities, duties, I like the unknown; I meet odd people who amuse me for a moment and sometimes suggest a theme for a composition; I am often tired of myself and I have a notion that by travel I can add to my personality and so change myself a little. I do not bring back from the journey quite the same self that I took

W. Somerset Maugham
Change, Moving, Tired
W. Somerset Maugham (1941). “the Gentleman in the Parlour”

One can be very much in love with a woman without wishing to spend the rest of one's life with her.

W. Somerset Maugham
Women, Wish, Human Bondage

Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.

W. Somerset Maugham
Love, Sarcastic, Depressing

A state of reverie does not avoid reality, it accedes to reality.

W. Somerset Maugham
Reality, Doe, States

Almost all the people who’ve had the most effect on me I seem to have met by chance, yet looking back it seems as though I couldn’t but have met them.

W. Somerset Maugham
People, Chance, Mets

Like all weak men he laid an exaggerated stress on not changing one's mind.

W. Somerset Maugham
Stress, Men, Weak Man
Of Human Bondage ch. 39 (1915)

I daresay one profits more by the mistakes one makes off one's own bat than by doing the right thing on somebody's else advice.

W. Somerset Maugham
Mistake, Advice, Bats
W. Somerset Maugham (2016). “Of Human Bondage (Diversion Classics)”, p.352, Diversion Books

Of all the hokum with which this country [America] is riddled, the most odd is the common notion that it is free of class distinctions.

W. Somerset Maugham
Country, Class, America
W. Somerset Maugham (2011). “A Writer's Notebook”, p.232, Random House

How can I be reasonable? To me our love was everything and you were my whole life. It is not very pleasant to realize that to you it was only an episode.

W. Somerset Maugham
Break Up, Broken Heart, Breakup
W. Somerset Maugham (2009). “The Painted Veil”, p.70, Random House

Failure make people bitter and cruel. Success improves the character of the man.

W. Somerset Maugham
Failure, Character, Men

I have always been convinced that if a woman once made up her mind to marry a man, nothing but instant flight could save him.

W. Somerset Maugham
Sex, Men, Mind
W. Somerset Maugham (2010). “Collected Short Stories”, p.318, Random House

Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger.

W. Somerset Maugham
Simple, Hunger, Ecstasy
W. Somerset Maugham (1930). “Cakes and Ale”

A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?

W. Somerset Maugham
God, Infinite, Understood

Words have weight, sound and appearance; it is only by considering these that you can write a sentence that is good to look at and good to listen to.

W. Somerset Maugham
Writing, Sound, Looks
W. Somerset Maugham (1954). “Mr. Maugham Himself”

Tradition is a guide and not a jailer.

W. Somerset Maugham
Teaching, Diversity, Social Justice
W. Somerset Maugham (1954). “Mr. Maugham Himself”

At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely.

W. Somerset Maugham
Inspirational, Clever, Happy New Year
Writer's Notebook (1949) p. 17 (written in 1896)

It is salutary to train oneself to be no more affected by censure than by praise.

W. Somerset Maugham
Sad, Courage, Praise
W. Somerset Maugham (2010). “The Summing Up”, p.220, Random House

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