Literature Quotes - Page 35

The eye is the notebook of the poet.

He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.

Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses, - for it is a sign of strength to be weak, to know it, and out with it - not in a set way and ostentatiously, though, but incidentally and without premeditation.

The modern work of art, as I have said, is a symbol.

The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well, and doing well whatever you do without thought of fame. If it comes at all it will come because it is deserved, not because it is sought after.

The worst sin that can be committed against the artist is to take him at his word, to see in his work a fulfillment instead of an horizon.

He grew weary of this condescension, and began to treat the opinions of his wife with that haughtiuess and insolence, which none but those who deserve some contempt themselves can bestow, and those only who deserve no contempt can bear.

I am an anarchist in politics and an impressionist in art as well as a symbolist in literature. Not that I understand what these terms mean, but I take them to be all merely synonyms of pessimist.

The greenhorn is the ultimate victor in everything; it is he that gets the most out of life.

Women began their inner emancipation by their access to literature, by access to the world through books; an access they could not have socially or politically, or of course economically, in the world at large.

No advance in wealth, no softening of manners, no reform or revolution has ever brought human equality a millimeter nearer.

Resistance at all cost is the most senseless act there is.

The poem is at last between two persons instead of two pages. In all modesty, I confess that it may be the death of literature as we know it.

A woman will doubt everything you say except it be compliments to herself.

The classic literature is always modern.

Violence is hidden within democratic structures because they are not radically democratic - Western democracy is merely a domestic convenience of consumerism.

We may seem competent, but by the end of next century there will be new deserts, new ruins.

Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive.

One of the surprising things in this world is the respect a worthless man has for himself.

Reverence is fatal to literature.

There is no kind of harassment that a man may not inflict on a woman with impunity in civilized societies.

Character is the aim of true education; and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish this desired end.

The real threat to whales is whaling, which has endangered many whale species.

I wrote because I needed to and wanted to. It never occurred to me that I'd become famous.

The only difference between suicide and martyrdom is press coverage.