W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist, and short story writer, renowned for his keen insights into human nature and society. Born in 1874, Maugham's prolific career spanned several decades, producing classics like "Of Human Bondage" and "The Razor's Edge." Known for his clear, unadorned prose and sharp wit, Maugham remains a significant figure in 20th-century literature. His experiences as a doctor and traveler deeply influenced his work.
Book summaries for books written by W. Somerset Maugham
Quotes
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. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Of all these the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art.
I was always free. I was free to do good or evil, to give up my life, or to betray my friends. I did evil and I did good. I gave up my life and a thousand times betrayed my friends. It wasn't their fault; it was mine.
The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met an open doorway with an open mind.
I don't think that love is a trick, exactly. I do know, however, that I am a skeptic. Love is something I've thought about a great deal. I think it's brought me more confusion than any other thing in the world.
I've discovered that the less I say, the more I hear. The less I do, the more I accomplish. And the less I want, the more I have.
The secret of life is this: when you hear the sound of the cannons, walk towards them.
There are two things in life for which we are never truly prepared: twins.
Seek death and you shall live. Seek life and you shall die.
The soul is greater than its fate; the soul endures and makes its own way. It's the soul that counts; no matter which world the soul inhabits, the path it takes is the same.
I admire people who have the guts to do things they believe in, no matter what the cost.
We're not all made alike, and he who goes his own way need not apologize or explain.
The great thing is to last and get your work done and see and hear and learn and understand; and write when there is something that you know; and not before; and not too damned much after.