More from W. Somerset Maugham
They call beautiful a dress, a dog, a sermon; and when they are face to face with Beauty cannot recognise it.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham The essence of the beautiful is unity in variety.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham It’s no use crying over spilt milk, because all of the forces of the universe were bent on spilling it.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham It is a nuisance that knowledge can only be acquired by hard work.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham When I look back upon the girl I was I hate myself. But I never had a chance. I’m going to bring up my daughter so that she’s free and can stand on her own feet.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham I made up my mind long ago that life was too short to do anything for myself that I could pay others to do for me.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham We who are of mature age seldom suspect how unmercifully and yet with what insight the very young judge us.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham Each one of us is alone in the world. He is shut in a tower of brass, and can communicate with his fellows only by signs, and the signs have no common value, so that their sense is vague and uncertain.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham As lovers, the difference between men and women is that women can love all day long, but men only at times.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham A bird in the hand was worth two in the bush, he told her, to which she retorted that a proverb was the last refuge of the mentally destitute.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham The crown of literature is poetry. It is its end and aim. It is the sublimest activity of the human mind. It is the achievement of beauty and delicacy. The writer of prose can only step aside when the poet passes.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham Often the best way to overcome desire is to satisfy it.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham People ask for criticism, but they only want praise.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham The future will one day be the present and will seem as unimportant as the present does now.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham I want a girl because I want to bring her up so that she shan’t make the mistakes I’ve made.
W. Somerset MaughamW. Somerset Maugham
Original quotes
From our community writers
People who don’t know how to love you are always going to hurt your heart.
H. DcostaH. Dcosta I no longer seek the love I think I deserve but rather the love I’ve always deserved.
Ava NicoleAva Nicole There is no such thing as a good investment.
Manish KhuntetaManish Khunteta Without you, I’m lost.
Amanda KarchAmanda Karch I did everything I could to make it work I was casting nets into the ocean and all they were doing was returning back empty.
Carmen AmadosCarmen Amados We flew to heaven, and we touched the sun.
Jennifer JulietteJennifer Juliette You told me everything would be okay. I wish you had said – you’ll hurt but I’ll hold you.
Ullie KayeUllie Kaye Be brave, be bold, beware that you must believe before becoming.
OvyukiOvyuki
Meet the writers
More on guarantee
There is no guarantee that tomorrow at this time we will be here.
Dalai LamaDalai Lama To be well prepared for war is the best guarantee of peace.
AesopAesop It’s the possibility that keeps me going, not the guarantee.
Nicholas SparksNicholas Sparks The truth is you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed.
EminemEminem Best place to view is from the beach. Excitement guaranteed!
Elon MuskElon Musk My dream is that all the world’s children have the right to live in a safe, comfortable environment in which their health and education are guaranteed.
Lionel MessiLionel Messi Friendship is the only cure for hatred, the only guarantee of peace.
Gautama BuddhaGautama Buddha Size is no guarantee of power.
J. K. RowlingJ. K. Rowling