Imbeciles to be in great places, people of sense in small, and mankind generally unhappy. But the world as it stands is no narrow illusion, no phantasm, no evil dream of the night; we wake up to it, forever and ever; and we can neither forget it nor deny it nor dispense with it.
HENRY JAMESIt is difficult to speak adequately or justly of London. It is not a pleasant place; it is not agreeable, or cheerful, or easy, or exempt from reproach. It is only magnificent.
More Henry James Quotes
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She had an immense curiosity about life, and was constantly staring and wondering.
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She had an unequalled gift, especially pen in hand, of squeezing big mistakes into small opportunities.
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if you are going to be pushed you had better jump
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Things are always different than what they might be…If you wait for them to change, you will never do anything.
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I’m yours for ever–for ever and ever. Here I stand; I’m as firm as a rock. If you’ll only trust me, how little you’ll be disappointed. Be mine as I am yours.
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What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?
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To criticize is to appreciate, to appropriate, to take intellectual possession.
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Things are always different from what they might be.
HENRY JAMES -
Art is nothing more than the shadow of humanity.
HENRY JAMES -
To establish in fine a relation with the criticized thing and to make it one’s own.
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However British you may be, I am more British still.
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It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance, for our consideration and application of these things, and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process.
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Judge everyone and everything for yourself.
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A tradition is kept alive only by something being added to it.
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We work in the dark – we do what we can – we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.
HENRY JAMES







