William Sansom Professions : Novelist Born : January 18, 1912 Died : April 20, 1976 Browse All Authors Top 4 quotes by William Sansom A writer lives, at best, in a state of astonishment. Beneath any feeling he has of the good or evil of the world lies a deeper one of wonder at it all. William Sansom evil writing lying A Status symbol is an instrument you clash when you want someone to know you are there. William Sansom status-symbol want class London is a bad habit one hates to lose. William Sansom london habit hate A writer lives, at best, in a state of astonishment. William Sansom astonishment states Similar Authors Adam Johnson novelist Ivan Goncharov novelist Binnie Kirshenbaum novelist Bruce Jay Friedman novelist Buchi Emecheta novelist Bryce Courtenay novelist All Authors