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Cyril Connolly

Cyril Connolly Quotes

Critic

Cyril Connolly was a prominent British literary critic and writer, known for his profound insights into modern literature and culture. His works include literary criticism, novels, and essays, with his most famous works being 'The Enemies' and 'The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft'. Connolly's writing style was unique, characterized by satire and wit.

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All Literature Writing Men People Ifs Art Atheism Hate Made Past Two Wells Book Civilization Dream Love May Positive Atheism Self Should

Famous Cyril Connolly Quotes

“There is no pain equal to that which two lovers can inflict on one another... It is when we begin to hurt those whom we love that the guilt with which we are born becomes intolerable, and since all those whom we love intensely and continuously grow part of us, and since we hate ourselves in them, so we torture ourselves and them together.”

Two Pain Together Hate Grows Born Hurt Lovers Equal Guilt Torture No Pain Two Lovers

Author:Cyril Connolly

“There is no pain equal to that which two lovers can inflict on one another. This should be made clear to all who contemplate such a union. The avoidance of this pain is the beginning of wisdom, for it is strong enough to contaminate the rest of our lives.”

Love Should Made Two Enough Pain Strong Clear Our Lives Lovers Equal Unions Contemplating Strong Enough Avoidance No Pain Two Lovers

Author:Cyril Connolly

“Two weeks before his death, a friend asked him half jokingly if he had discovered any meaning in life. "Yes," he replied, "there is a meaning; at least, for me, there is one thing that matters - to set a chime of words tinkling in the minds of a few fastidious people."”

People Ifs Mind Two Matter Half One Thing Week Two Weeks Things That Matter Meaning Life Chimes Fastidious

Book:Ideas and Places

Source: Ideas and Places

“There is no pain equal to that which two lovers can inflict on one another.”

Two Pain Lovers Equal Contemplating Avoidance No Pain Bad Relationship Two Lovers

Author:Cyril Connolly

“English Law: where there are two alternatives: one intelligent, one stupid; one attractive, one vulgar; one noble, one ape-like; one serious and sincere, one undignified and false; one far-sighted, one short; EVERYBODY will INVARIABLY choose the latter.”

Two Law Stupid Serious Intelligent Noble Alternatives Attractive Latter Sincere Cynical Vulgar Apes English Law

Book:Cyril Connolly: journal and memoir

Source: Cyril Connolly: journal and memoir

“Marriage is the permanent conversation between two people who talk over everything and everyone until death breaks the record.”

People Two Marriage Break Records Conversation Permanent

Author:Cyril Connolly

“A mutually fulfilled sexual union between two people is the rarest sensation which life can provide. But it is not quite real. It stops when the telephone rings. Such a passion can be kept at its early strength only by adding to it either more and more unhappiness (jealousy, separation, doubt, renunciation), or more and more artificiality (drink, technique, stage-illusions). Whoever has missed this has never lived, who lives for it alone is but partly alive.”

People Two Real Passion Doubt Alive Stage Drink Illusion Unions Technique Rings Separation Unhappiness Sensations Fulfilled Telephones Renunciation Artificiality

Author:Cyril Connolly

About the Author

Born: September 10, 1903
Died: November 26, 1974
Known for: Critic
Quotes: 171

Related Topics

Literature Writing Men People Ifs Art Atheism Hate Made Past Two Wells Book Civilization Dream Love May Positive Atheism Self Should

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People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Enemies of PromiseRelated source material

Cyril Connolly: journal and memoirRelated source material

Enemies of promise and other essays: an autobiography of ideasRelated source material

The Condemned PlaygroundRelated source material

The evening colonnadeRelated source material

Ideas and PlacesRelated source material

The Unquiet Grave: A Word Cycle by PalinurusRelated source material

The selected essays of Cyril ConnollyRelated source material

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