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Quote by Robertson Davies

“When irony first makes itself known in a young man's life, it can be like his first experience of getting drunk; he has met with a powerful thing which he does not know how to handle.”

Quote by Robertson Davies

Book:The Cunning Man
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Work

The Cunning Man

This book delves into the intricate mind of a cunning protagonist, showcasing their intelligence and adaptability in various situations. more

Author

Robertson Davies
Robertson Davies

Robertson Davies was a Canadian novelist known for his wit and humor. His works often set in the Canadian society, exploring the relationship between individuals and society. Davies' works include the 'Amos Fortune' series and the 'Crown of the North' series, which are highly appreciated by readers. more

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“The US, for historical reasons, mistrusts the concept of a welfare state, and this mistrust shows itself nakedly under present US government, which commits uncounted billions of the national wealth to what it calls defence, and is close-fisted in giving money to plans which would ameliorate the grinding poverty of a great part of its people. Quite simply, in Canada you could not get away with that.”

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Book:The Merry Heart: Reflections on Reading, Writing, and the World of Books
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“Only in the theatre was it possible to see the performers and to be warmed by their personal charm, to respond to their efforts and to feel their response to the applause and appreciative laughter of the audience. It had an intimate quality; audience and actors conspired to make a little oasis of happiness and mirth within the walls of the theatre. Try as we will, we cannot be intimate with a shadow on a screen, nor a voice from a box.”

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Author:Robertson Davies
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“It is in this matter that I fall foul of so many American writers on writing; they seem to think that writing is a confidence game by means of which the author cajoles a restless, dull-witted, shallow audience into hearing his point of view. Such an attitude is base, and can only beget base prose.”

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Author:Robertson Davies
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“If I had to describe my remarks this evening frankly as if I were in police court and on oath, so to speak I should have to call it a ramble over several subjects, portions of which may seem to you to be impudent, and portions of which will be ignorant, and portions of which may contrive to be both at once.”

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Book:Selected Works on the Pleasures of Reading
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“Our forebears are deserving of tribute for one indisputable reason, if for no other: without them we should not be here. Let us recognize that we are not the ultimate triumph but rather we are beads on a string. Let us behave with decency to the beads that were strung before us and hope modestly that the beads that come after us will not hold us of no account simply because we are dead.”

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Author:Robertson Davies
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“Of course, fairies are all imported in North America. We have no native fairies. The Little People do not long survive importation unless they go to California and grow large and beautiful, but haven't much flavour, like the fruit and the film stars.”

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Book:Happy Alchemy: On the Pleasures of Music and the Theatre
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