Clarity is not a characteristic of the human spirit. Robertson Davies More Quotes by Robertson Davies More Quotes From Robertson Davies If a man wants to be of the greatest possible value to his fellow-creature s let him begin the long, solitary task of perfecting himself. Robertson Davies tasks men long You're all mad for words. Words are just farts from a lot of fools who have swallowed too many books. Give me things! Robertson Davies mad giving book Money, it is often said, does not bring happiness; it must be added, however, that it makes it possible to support unhappiness with exemplary fortitude. Robertson Davies fortitude support doe I see Canada as a country torn between a very northern, rather extraordinary, mystical spirit which it fears and its desire to present itself to the world as a Scotch banker. Robertson Davies scotch desire country I never heard of anyone who was really literate or who ever really loved books who wanted to suppress any of them. Robertson Davies heard wanted book The greatest gift that Oxford gives her sons is, I truly believe, a genial irreverence toward learning, and from that irreverence love may spring. Robertson Davies spring love believe To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser. Robertson Davies dope writing book Do not suppose, however, that I intend to urge a diet of classics on anybody. I have seen such diets at work. I have known people who have actually read all, or almost all, the guaranteed Hundred Best Books. God save us from reading nothing but the best. Robertson Davies reading book people I am quite a wise old bird, but I am no desert hermit who can only prophesy when his guts are knotted with hunger. I am deep in the old man’s puzzle, trying to link the wisdom of the body with the wisdom of the spirit until the two are one. Robertson Davies wise men two Nothing grows old-fashioned so fast as modernity. Robertson Davies modernity old-fashioned grows If I had my way books would not be written in English but in an exceedingly difficult secret language.... This plan would have the advantage of scaring off all amateur authors, retired politicians, country doctors...who would not have the patience to learn the secret language. Robertson Davies doctors country book It was as though she was an exile from a world that saw things her way Robertson Davies saws way world To instruct calls for energy, and to remain almost silent, but watchful and helpful, while students instruct themselves, calls for even greater energy. To see someone fall (which will teach him not to fall again) when a word from you would keep him on his feet but ignorant of an important danger, is one of the tasks of the teacher that calls for special energy, because holding in is more demanding than crying out. Robertson Davies feet teacher fall Everything matters. The Universe is approximately fifteen billion years old, and I swear that in all that time, nothing has ever happened that has not mattered, has not contributed in some way to the totality. Robertson Davies fifteen matter years Computers will have to learn that when I quote from some old author who spelled differently from the machine, the wishes of the long-dead author will have to be respected, and the machine will have to mind its manners Robertson Davies wish mind long The little boy nodded at the peony and the peony seemed to nod back. The little boy was neat, clean and pretty. The peony was unchaste, dishevelled as peonies must be, and at the height of its beauty.(...) Every hour is filled with such moments, big with significance for someone. Robertson Davies height littles boys A boy is a man in miniature, and though he may sometimes exhibit notable virtue, as well as characteristics that seem to be charming because they are childlike, he is also a schemer, self-seeker, traitor, Judas, crook, and villain - in short, a man. Robertson Davies self men boys To be apt in quotation is a splendid and dangerous gift. Splendid, because it ornaments a man's speech with other men's jewels; dangerous, for the same reason. Robertson Davies speech jewels men Women say . . . that if men had to have babies there would soon be no babies in the world. . . . I have sometimes wished that some clever man would actually have a baby in some new labor-saving way; then all men could take it up, and one of the oldest taunts in the world would be stilled forever. Robertson Davies clever baby men Only in the theatre was it possible to see the performers and to be warmed by their personal charm, to respond to their efforts and to feel their response to the applause and appreciative laughter of the audience. It had an intimate quality; audience and actors conspired to make a little oasis of happiness and mirth within the walls of the theatre. Try as we will, we cannot be intimate with a shadow on a screen, nor a voice from a box. Robertson Davies wall laughter voice
