Reverie is the groundwork of creative imagination; it is the privilege of the artist that with him it is not as with other men an escape from reality, but the means by which he accedes to it. W. Somerset Maugham More Quotes by W. Somerset Maugham More Quotes From W. Somerset Maugham The writer of prose can only step aside when the poet passes... W. Somerset Maugham prose poet steps You cannot write well or much (and I venture the opinion that you cannot write well unless you write much) unless you form a habit. W. Somerset Maugham writing Marriage is a very good thing, but I think it's a mistake to make a habit out of it. W. Somerset Maugham funny-marriage mistake thinking It is salutary to train oneself to be no more affected by censure than by praise. W. Somerset Maugham sad praise courage The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit. W. Somerset Maugham inspirational funny science It's very hard to be a gentleman and a writer. W. Somerset Maugham comeback gentleman writing She [Sadie Thompson] gathered herself together. No one could describe the scorn of her expression or the contemptuous hatred she put into her answer. "You men! You filthy dirty pigs! You're all the same, all of you. Pigs! Pigs!" W. Somerset Maugham pigs men dirty It is not difficult to be unconventional in the eyes of the world when your unconventionality is but the convention of your set. W. Somerset Maugham independence deception eye Well, you know when people are no good at anything else they become writers. W. Somerset Maugham wells knows people Some of us look for the Way in opium and some in God, some of us in whiskey and some in love. It is all the same Way and it leads nowhither. W. Somerset Maugham whiskey looks way She’s wonderful. Tell her I’ve never seen such beautiful hands. I wonder what she sees in you.” Waddington, smiling, translated the question. “She says I’m good.” “As if a woman ever loved a man for his virtue,” Kitty mocked. W. Somerset Maugham beautiful men hands We know our friends by their defects rather than by their merits. W. Somerset Maugham inspirational friendship life The most valuable thing I have learned from life is to regret nothing. W. Somerset Maugham regret wisdom life-is It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive. W. Somerset Maugham inspirational character life What do we any of us have but our illusions? And what do we ask of others but that we be allowed to keep them? W. Somerset Maugham resignation illusion asks The prestige you acquire by being able to tell your friends that you know famous men proves only that you are yourself of small account. W. Somerset Maugham reputation able men To bear failure with courage is the best proof of character that anyone can give. W. Somerset Maugham failure inspiration courage In the country the darkness of night is friendly and familiar, but in a city, with its blaze of lights, it is unnatural, hostile and menacing. It is like a monstrous vulture that hovers, biding its time. W. Somerset Maugham light night country I [Death] was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra. W. Somerset Maugham baghdad tonight death I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then men create out of the chaos. W. Somerset Maugham men world ideas