Home / Quotes / Quote by William Empson

Quote by William Empson

“The central function of imaginative literature is to make you realize that other people act on moral convictions different from your own.”

Quote by William Empson

Book:The royal beasts and other works

Work

The royal beasts and other works

This book is a compilation of tales that explore the realms of fantasy, focusing on the interactions between mythical beasts and royalty in various settings. more

Author

William Empson was a British literary critic born on September 27, 1906, and died on April 15, 1984. His work is known for its unique literary analysis and profound philosophical insights. more

You May Also Like

“Waiting for the end, boys, waiting for the end. What is there to be or do? What's become of me or you? Are we kind or are we true? Sitting two and two, boys, waiting for the end.”

Kind Two Ends Waiting Boys Sitting

Author:William Empson

“This world is good enough for me, if only I can be good enough for it.”

Ifs World I Can Enough This World Be Good Good Enough

Author:William Empson

“I take it that 'gentleman' is a term that only describes a person in his relation to others; but when we speak of him as 'a man,' we consider him not merely with regard to his fellow-men, but in relation to himself,--to life--to time--to eternity.”

Men Persons Speak Term Eternity Relation Regard Fellows Gentleman Fellow Man North And South

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Elizabeth Gaskell (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Elizabeth Gaskell (Illustrated)

“Really it is very wholesome exercise, this trying to make one's words represent one's thoughts, instead of merely looking to their effect on others.”

Trying Effects Exercise

Book:The Complete Works of Elizabeth Gaskell (20+ Books)

Source: The Complete Works of Elizabeth Gaskell (20+ Books)

“Trust a girl of sixteen for knowing well if she is pretty; concerning her plainness she may be ignorant.”

Ifs Wells May Girl Knowing Ignorant Sixteen Plainness

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Elizabeth Gaskell (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Elizabeth Gaskell (Illustrated)

“A good woman is the loveliest flower that blooms under heaven; and we look with love and wonder upon its silent grace, its pure fragrance, its delicate bloom of beauty.”

Looks Heaven Wonder Grace Flower Pure Silent Delicate Fragrance Good Woman

Book:The History of Pendennis, His Fortunes and Misfortunes, His Friends and His Greatest Enemy

Source: The History of Pendennis, His Fortunes and Misfortunes, His Friends and His Greatest Enemy

“Who was the blundering idiot who said 'fine words butter no parsnips'? Half the parsnips of society are served and rendered palatable with no other sauce.”

Said Half Fine Idiot Sauce Fine Words Parsnips

Book:Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero

Source: Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero

“Who has not remarked the readiness with which the closest of friends and honestest of men suspect and accuse each other of cheating when they fall out on money matters? Everybody does it. Everybody is right, I suppose, and the world is a rogue.”

Men World Doe Matter Fall Cheating Suspects Closest Readiness Rogues Money Matters

Book:Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of William Makepeace Thackeray (Illustrated)

“Which, I wonder, brother reader, is the better lot, to die prosperous and famous, or poor and disappointed? To have, and to be forced to yield; or to sink out of life, having played and lost the game? That must be a strange feeling, when a day of our life comes and we say, 'To-morrow, success or failure won't matter much; and the sun will rise, and all the myriads of mankind go to their work or their pleasure as usual, but I shall be out of the turmoil.'”

Matter Feelings Dies Games Lost Pleasure Poor Wonder Sun Our Lives Mankind Strange Brother Reader Yield Disappointed Usual Prosperous Turmoil Morrow Success Or Failure

Book:Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero

Source: Vanity Fair: A Novel Without a Hero

“For me, self-discipline has never corresponded to a voluntary adhesion to norms invented by others. It has always been the first step towards breaking the chains.”

Firsts Self Steps Discipline Chains First Steps Self Discipline Norm

Book:On Directing: Burning the House

Source: On Directing: Burning the House