“He painted with the brain, and he could not help knowing that the only painting worth anything was done with the heart. (375)” HeartPaint Author:Somerset Maugham
“Only the poet or the saint can water an asphalt pavement in the confident anticipation that lilies will reward his labour.” PoetsCreative PeopleSaints Book:The Moon and Sixpence Source: The Moon and Sixpence
“Of course a miracle may happen, and you may be a great painter, but you must confess the chances are a million to one against it. It'll be an awful sell if at the end you have to acknowledge you've made a hash of it." "I've got to paint," he repeated. "Supposing you're never anything more than third-rate, do you think it will have been worth while to give up everything? After all, in any other walk in life it doesn't matter if you're not very good; you can get along quite comfortably if you're just adequate; but it's different with an artist." "You blasted fool," he said. "I don't see why, unless it's folly to say the obvious." "I tell you I've got to paint. I can't help myself. When a man falls into the water it doesn't matter how he swims, well or badly: he's got to get out or else he'll drown.” ArtArtistPassionCallingObsession Book:The Moon and Sixpence Source: The Moon and Sixpence
“You know, there are two good things in life, freedom of thought and freedom of action.” LifeActionFreedomThought Book:Of Human Bondage Source: Of Human Bondage
“It was clear that the will to achieve could not help you and confidence in yourself meant nothing. (362)” Confidence Author:Somerset Maugham
“Himself an ugly man, insignificant of appearance, he prized very highly comeliness in others.” BeautyAppearanceDesiresUglynessComeliness Author:Somerset Maugham
“You're mistaken in thinking I'm unhappy. T have a great deal too much to do to think of you very often.” The Painted Veil Author:Somerset Maugham
“Salió Ashenden de su meditación al percibir que el agua había bajado de tempertura; no podía alcanzar la llave del agua caliente con la mano ni abrirla con los pies (como todo grifo digno de tal nombre debiera poder abrirse), y para añadir más agua caliente se veía obligado a incorporarse por completo. Tampoco le era posible levantar con los pies el tapón para vaciar el baño y así obligarse a salir, ni desde luego tenía la suficiente fuerza de voluntad ni la decisión necesaria para salir del baño y darlo por terminado. A menudo le habían dicho que era una persona de carácter, y en aquel momento se le ocurrió cuán ligeramente juzgaban las personas los asuntos de esta vida sin tener datos suficientes: por ejemplo, nunca le habían visto en un baño caliente que progresiva y rápidamente se iba enfriando.” CarácterBaño Book:Ashenden Source: Ashenden
“Los hechos son narradores pobres. Empienzan la historia por azar, generalmente mucho antes del principio, divagan inconsecuentes y decaen, dejando posibles finales colgados y sin conclusión. Trabajan una situación interesante y la dejan en el aire para seguir con otra que no tiene nada que ver. No saben qué es el clímax y rechazan los efectos dramáticos por irrelevantes.” FicciónEl Arte De Narrar Book:Ashenden Source: Ashenden