George Gissing
Born: 11-21-1857
George Gissing was an influential English novelist known for his keen social commentary and exploration of class struggles in late Victorian society. Born in 1857, Gissing authored over 20 novels, including "New Grub Street" and "The Odd Women," which offer a critical view of urban life and intellectual disenchantment. His works are celebrated for their realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by the working and middle classes during his time.
Book summaries for books written by George Gissing
Quotes
The world is not a very nice place, and it contains no more evil and suffering than are necessary for the final attainment of good.
The wise man is he who knows the limitations of his wisdom.
It's the way with all men and women. They think they've got a hold of life for good, and life has got a hold of them for good, and they find they're mistaken.
Literature nowadays is a trade. Putting aside men of genius, who may succeed by mere cosmic force, your successful man of letters is your skilful tradesman.
The world is full of ambitious poor men.
Everything comes to him who knows how to wait.
There are few things more strange and pitiful than the way in which the lack of money seems to breed lack of self-respect.
No man can always be at his best, and the world is not so insatiate of genius that it can afford to wait for the man of genius to come before it will take any notice of him.
The world is a place of squalid horror, and both life and the world are held by the majority to be good.
The man who has no tincture of philosophy goes through life imprisoned in the prejudices derived from common sense, from the habitual beliefs of his age or his nation, and from convictions which have grown up in his mind without the cooperation or consent of his deliberate reason.
In the vast mass of mankind, insignificant desires are the most common.
That is the penalty of greatness; it makes people pay too much for their living.