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I have for myself no conceivable complaint to make, and yet for American literature in general, and its standing in a country where industrialism and finance and science flourish and the only arts that are vital and respected are architecture and the film, I have a considerable complaint.

Sinclair Lewis

There are two insults which no human being will endure: The assertion that he hasn’t a sense of humor, and the doubly impertinent assertion that he has never known trouble.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Assertion Being Endure Human Humor Imperlinent Insult Sense
Curiously, neither God nor the devil may wear modern dress, but must retain Grecian vestments.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Curiosity Devil Dress God Grecian Modern Neither Retain Vestment Wear
We have the plans for a Utopia already made; just wiser than you.’ For ten thousand years they’ve said that. We want our Utopia now — and we’re going to try our hands at it.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Already Go Hand Made Plan Thousand Utpoi Want Wiser Year
Funny how the world always praises its opera-singers so much and pays ’em so well and then starves its shoemakers, and yet it needs good shoes so much more than it needs opera–or war or fiction.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Always Fiction Funny Much Need Opera Praise Pray Shoemaker Singer So Strive War Well World
Indians, of course, have no “theology,” and indeed no word for the system of credulity in which the white priests arrange for God, who must be entirely bewildered by it, a series of excuses for his failures.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Arrange Country Course Cruelty God Indeed Must Priest System Theology
It isn’t what you earn but how spend it that fixes your class.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Class Earn Fix Spend
You’re so earnest about morality that I hate to think how essentially immoral you must be underneath.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Earn Essential Immortal Morality Must Think Underneath
There are dozens of young poets and fictioneers most of them a little insane in the tradition of James Joyce, who, however insane they may be, have refused to be genteel and traditional and dull.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Country Dozen Fictioneer Insane May Most People Person Poet Tradition Young
That nation is proudest and noblest and most exalted which has the greatest number of really great men.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Excited General Great Men Nation Noblest Most Number Protest Really
The cocktail filled him with a whirling exhilaration behind which he was aware of devastating desires-to rush places in fast motors, to kiss girls, to sing, to be witty. … He perceived that he had gifts of profligacy which had been neglected. -chapter 8
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Aware Behind Cocktail Desire Devastatimng Exhilaration Fill Whirling
An it isn’t so much that the church is in bondage to Big Business and doctrines as laid down by millionaires – though a lot of churches are that, too.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Bondage Business Church Doctrine Down Lot Millionaire Much Too
The most important part of living is not the living but the pondering upon it.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Important Living Most Part Ponder Upon
You’ve been telling us about how to secure peace, but come on, now, General-just among us Rotarians and Rotary Anns-‘fess up!
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Among Been Come General Just Now Peace Rotarian Secure Teel
His name was George F. Babbitt, and . . . he was nimble in the calling of selling houses for more than people could afford to pay.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Afford Call Country House More Name Nimble Pay People Person Sell
Thus Carol hit upon the tragedy of old age, which is not that it is less vigorous than youth, but that it is not needed by youth.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Age Hit Less Need Old People Person Tragedy Upon Vigorous Youth
In protest, I declined election to the National Institute of Arts and Letters some years ago, and now I must decline the Pulitzer Prize.
SINCLAIR LEWIS

Ago Art Decline Election Institute Letter National Price Protest Some Year

I have for myself no conceivable complaint to make, and yet for American literature in general, and its standing in a country where industrialism and finance and science flourish and the only arts that are vital and respected are architecture and the film, I have a considerable complaint.

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I have for myself no conceivable complaint to make, and yet for American literature in general, and its standing in a country where industrialism and finance and science flourish and the only arts that are vital and respected are architecture and the film, I have a considerable complaint.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Sinclair Lewis Quotes