My dear fellow, my whole life is moved by the principle that the one thing which is more important than peace is music. It is because I believe that I am poor. Robertson Davies More Quotes by Robertson Davies More Quotes From Robertson Davies 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 Very often when I am introduced to women, I think, What is she really like behind the disguise which she wears? And very often I discover that she is pleasant enough, and probably would expand and glow if she received enough affection. Robertson Davies affection women thinking All art is holy. Not that it is all long-faced and miserable; it can be wild and wooly. But if it transforms you, it is art. And it is holy. Robertson Davies long art religion The US, for historical reasons, mistrusts the concept of a welfare state, and this mistrust shows itself nakedly under present US government, which commits uncounted billions of the national wealth to what it calls defence, and is close-fisted in giving money to plans which would ameliorate the grinding poverty of a great part of its people. Quite simply, in Canada you could not get away with that. Robertson Davies giving-money government people Inactivity and deprivation of all accustomed stimulus is not rest; it is a preparation for the tomb Robertson Davies deprivation stimulus preparation Canada was settled, in the main, by people with a lower middle-class outlook, and a respect, rather than an affectionate familiarity, for the things of the mind. Robertson Davies mind class people The clerisy are those who read for pleasure, but not for idleness; who read for pastime but not to kill time; who love books, but do not live by books Robertson Davies pleasure live-by book A great many complimentary things have been said about the faculty of memory, and if you look in a good quotation book you will find them neatly arranged. Robertson Davies memories book looks Curiosity is part of the cement that holds society together. Robertson Davies cement curiosity together Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. Robertson Davies may happy happiness I think we should see whether we are wise trying to educate everybody to a high standard the way we are trying to do now. There has to be a high level of education so everybody is literate, but whether university education is necessary for everyone is open to question. Robertson Davies wise trying thinking I think a lot of people have unreasonable expectations because they never stop to consider what life actually has to offer them. They're always looking for some great epiphany from the skies. They never stop to consider the fact which human beings find hardest to recognize: "Maybe I'm not worthy of an epiphany. Robertson Davies sky people thinking We live in a world where bulk is equated with quality. Robertson Davies quality world Though thousands of people indulge themselves in it regularly, and even develop a taste for it, there is no doubt in my mind (and that of scientists whom I employ to prove it) that Work is a dangerous and destructive drug, and should be called by its right name, which is Fatigue. Robertson Davies names work people A man who recognizes no God is probably placing an inordinate value on himself. Robertson Davies values god men There is more to marriage than four bare legs under a blanket. Robertson Davies blanket legs four Too much traffic with a quotation book begets a conviction of ignorance in a sensitive reader. Not only is there a mass of quotable stuff he never quotes, but an even vaster realm of which he has never heard. Robertson Davies ignorance stuff book Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never tire of it. If we do tire of it, if we lose our curiosity, we have lost something of infinite value, because to a high degree it is curiosity that gives meaning and savour to life. Robertson Davies degrees curiosity giving The people who fear humor - and they are many - are suspicious of its power to present things in unexpected lights, to question received opinions and to suggest unforeseen possibilities. Robertson Davies humor light people May I make a suggestion, hoping it is not an impertinence? Write it down: write down what you feel. It is sometimes a wonderful help in misery. Robertson Davies sad writing depression
