W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham CHwas a British playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPlaywright
Date of Birth25 January 1874
W. Somerset Maugham quotes about
cute chance life-is
Life is so largely controlled by chance that its conduct can be but a perpetual improvisation.
happens love man woman
Love is what happens to a man and woman who don't know each other.
foolish forty man million people wise
If forty million people say a foolish thing it does not become a wise one, but the wise man is foolish to give them the lie.
ease freedom lose soon thinks
Any nation that thinks more of its ease and comfort than its freedom will soon lose its freedom; and the ironical thing about it is that it will lose its ease and comfort too.
carry discovered earliest nonsense wiser
From the earliest times the old have rubbed it into the young that they are wiser than they, and before the young had discovered what nonsense this was they were old too, and it profited them to carry on the imposture.
assumed clinging conscious difference duchess lady order persons rank station
Lady Hodmarsh and the duchess immediately assumed the clinging affability that persons of rank assume with their inferiors in order to show them that they are not in the least conscious of any difference in station between them.
bitter common failure people spoils success
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. Failure makes people bitter and cruel.
illusion lost youth
It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who has lost it.
love life change
We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.
inspirational funny life
It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.
change razors lasts
Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.
inspirational secret life-is
The secret to life is meaningless unless you discover it yourself.
life friendship time
It's no good trying to keep up old friendships. It's painful for both sides. The fact is, one grows out of people, and the only thing is to face it.
break-up broken-heart breakup
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.