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William Bolitho Quotes

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William Bolitho (1890-1930) was an English author known for his historical novels. His works are typically set against the backdrop of 19th-century British society, offering deep insights into the era's history and culture.

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All Casanova Adventure Mere Hands Ifs Life Profession Seraphina Social Way

Famous William Bolitho Quotes

“Casanova had no ordinary shame”

Ordinary Shame Casanova

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“People who are not enjoying themselves very much always most dislike risking their lives.”

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“In his stay with the cultured old epicure, Casanova had learnt two Latin saws, which were to be for the rest of his life his gospel and his policy: Fata viam inveniunt. Volentem ducit, nolentem trahit. As we may say : Fate finds the way, and Life leads its lover, betrays its rebel.”

Way Life Fate Casanova

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“To every sweetheart he (Casanova) gave himself exclusively; he had so many selves.”

Self Exclusive Casanova

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“In short, she (Seraphina) had luck and judgment, but no morals.”

Morals Seraphina

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“The truth is that he (Casanova) had ceased subtly to be an adventurer to become a noisy scoundrel, or if that is too harsh, that he had no longer the irresistible charm of being the world’s best loser. He was always greedy. Now he was grasping. He was always noticeable. Now he was loud. He had become without knowing it a social man, desperately interested in the stability of his own position which he tried, without knowing how to do it, to link up with the stability of society. He had become a fortune hunter, and shrank from the quest of chance; the supernatural shine had left his eyes. Men saw in him no longer Puck, but a rival.”

Adventure Casanova

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“Yet, feeling his way, starting by the passive opposition of small thefts, stealing sausage ends and crusts of bread when Signora Squeers was asleep, he (Casanova) progressed until he arrived at the thought “ that it was ridiculous to be oppressed”

Oppression Casanova

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“Nevertheless this was the problem Casanova solved. His prime secret is in his own words. “ I have always believed that when a man gets it into his head to do something, and when he exclusively occupies himself in that design, he must succeed whatever the difficulties. That man will become Grand Vizier or Pope. He will upset a dynasty, provided he starts young and has the brain and perseverance necessary. For when a man has arrived at the age that Chance despises he can no longer do anything ; for without her aid there is no hope.”

Perseverance Casanova

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“Restated constructively, the end of the adventure already drags the course of the man; he (Cagliostro) is in love with satiety. But she (Seraphina) is in love with adventure. Her pitch is higher.”

Adventure Satiety Seraphina Cagliostro

Book:Twelve Against the Gods

Source: Twelve Against the Gods

“You need more fact in the dangerous art of giving presents than in any other social action.”

Needs Giving Art Facts Action Social Dangerous Christmas Social Action

Author:William Bolitho

“Adventure must start with running away from home.”

Home Running Adventure Running Away Away From Home Home Away From Home

Author:William Bolitho

“Dare, will, keep silence.”

Silence Military Dare

Author:William Bolitho

“It is when Pirates count their booty that they become mere thieves.”

Mere Thieves Pirate Booty

Author:William Bolitho

“Only the poet has any right to be sorry for the poor, if he has anything to spare when he has thought of the dull, commonplace rich.”

Ifs Poetry Poor Rich Poet Sorry Dull Spares Commonplace

Author:William Bolitho

“A very beautiful woman hardly ever leaves a clear-cut impression of features and shape in the memory: usually there remains only an aura of living color”

Beautiful Memories Clear Cutting Color Shapes Remains Impression Features Beautiful Women Very Beautiful Auras Living Color

Author:William Bolitho

“The most important thing in life is not to capitalize on your successes-any fool can do that. The really important thing is to profit from your mistakes.”

Important Life Is Can Do Mistake Fool Important Things Profit Things In Life Most Important Things In Life

Author:William Bolitho

“An adventure differs from a mere feat in that it is tied to the externally unattainable. Only one end of the rope is in the hand, the other is not visible, and neither prayers, nor daring, nor reason can shake it free.”

Ends Reason Hands Prayer Adventure Mere Visible Shakes Daring Tied Rope Feats Unattainable

Author:William Bolitho

“General jackdaw culture, very little more than a collection of charming miscomprehensions, untargeted enthusiasms, and a general habit of skimming.”

Littles Culture Society Habit Enthusiasm Charm Collections Charming Skimming

Author:William Bolitho

“The profession of magician, is one of the most perilous and arduous specializations of the imagination. On the one hand there is the hostility of God and the police to be guarded against; on the other it is as difficult as music, as deep as poetry, as ingenious as stage-craft, as nervous as the manufacture of high explosives, and as delicate as the trade in narcotics.”

Hands Difficult Imagination Magic Stage Police Trade Profession Nervous Crafts Delicate Magician Hostility Ingenious Guarded Explosives Specialization Narcotics

Author:William Bolitho

“The mere idea of marriage, as a strong possibility, if not always nowadays a reasonable likelihood, existing to weaken the will by distracting its straight aim in the life of practically every young girl, is the simple secret of their confessed inferiority in men's pursuits and professions to-day.”

Ifs Men Ideas Young Girl Strong Simple Secret Marriage Possibility Aim Mere Profession Pursuit Reasonable Inferiority Likelihood

Author:William Bolitho

“Adventure is the vitaminizing element in histories both individual and social.”

Individual Social Adventure Elements

Author:William Bolitho

“We will never have Fascism in England; no Englishman will dress up, not even for a revolution.”

Government Revolution England Dresses Fascism Englishmen

Author:William Bolitho

“The shortest way out of Manchester is notoriously a bottle of Gordon's gin.”

Way Drink Bottles Manchester Gin

Author:William Bolitho

About the Author

Born: 1890
Died: 1930
Known for: Author
Quotes: 23

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Casanova Adventure Mere Hands Ifs Life Profession Seraphina Social Way

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

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