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I regard writing not as an investigation of character but as an exercise in the use of language, and with this I am obsessed.

Evelyn Waugh

Of the many smells of Athens two seem to me the most characteristic – that of garlic, bold and deadly like acetylene gas. and that of dust, soft and warm and caressing like tweed.
EVELYN WAUGH

Character Food Soft Warm
The splendid thing about education is that everyone wants it. Like influenza, you can give it away without losing any of it yourself.
EVELYN WAUGH

Education Lose Yourself
Charm is the great English blight. It does not exist outside these damp islands. It spots and kills anything it touches. It kills love; it kills art; I greatly fear, my dear Charles, it has killed you.
EVELYN WAUGH

Art Charm Death Existence Fear Greatness Kill Love Myself Touch Yourself
Words have basic inalienable meanings, departure from which is either conscious metaphor or inexcusable vulgarity.
EVELYN WAUGH

Meaning Vulgar Word
Port is not for the very young, the vain and the active. It is the comfort of age and the companion of the scholar and the philosopher.
EVELYN WAUGH

Active Age Comfortable Company Philosophy Young
We possess nothing certainly except the past.
EVELYN WAUGH

Exception One Liner Past Possession
I haven’t been to sleep for over a year. That’s why I go to bed early. One needs more rest if one doesn’t sleep.
EVELYN WAUGH

Bed Myself Need Rest Sleep Work
O God, make me good, but not yet.
EVELYN WAUGH

Character God Goodness One Liner
I can’t bare you when you’re not amusing.
EVELYN WAUGH

Amusement Myself Personality Yourself
For in that city -New York; there is neurosis in the air which the inhabitants mistake for energy.
EVELYN WAUGH

Energy Mistake People Resident
I regard writing not as an investigation of character but as an exercise in the use of language, and with this I am obsessed.
EVELYN WAUGH

Character Exercise Language Myself Obsession Regard Writing
Remember that, however patient your study, you will never in adult life learn any language perfectly; the best you can hope for is to be a bore.
EVELYN WAUGH

Adult Best Boredom Education Hope Language Life Patience Perfection Remember Study Yourself
My children weary me. I can only see them as defective adults: feckless, destructive, frivolous, sensual, humorless.
EVELYN WAUGH

Children Destruction Family Father Myself See
Not everyone grows to be old, but everyone has been younger than he is now.
EVELYN WAUGH

Growth Himself Old Young
Manners are especially the need of the plain. The pretty can get away with anything.
EVELYN WAUGH

Character Let Go Mischief Need Yourself
They are a very decent generous lot of people out here and they don’t expect you to listen. It’s the secret of social ease in this country. They talk entirely for their own pleasure. Nothing they say is designed to be heard.
EVELYN WAUGH

Country Design Expectation Generosity Happiness Listening People Secret Talk

I regard writing not as an investigation of character but as an exercise in the use of language, and with this I am obsessed.

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I regard writing not as an investigation of character but as an exercise in the use of language, and with this I am obsessed.

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Popular Authors

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