W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham CHwas a British playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPlaywright
Date of Birth25 January 1874
knows rules three writers-and-writing
There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately no one knows what they are.
tests phrases easy
Usage is the only test. I prefer a phrase that is easy and unaffected to a phrase that is grammatical.
people fool way
A dictator must fool all the people all the time and there's only one way to do that, he must also fool himself.
mind farce comedy
Comedy appeals to the collective mind of the audience and this grows fatigued; while farce appeals to a more robust organ, their collective belly.
book reading thinking
Make him laugh and he will think you a trivial fellow, but bore him in the right way and your reputation is assured.
book needs astonishing
It is astonishing how many books I find there is no need for me to read at all.
community desire exhilaration
Affection is created by habit, community of interests, convenience and the desire of companionship. It is a comfort rather than an exhilaration.
fall play important
The audience is not the least important actor in the play and if it will not do its allotted share the play falls to pieces.
intelligent animal intellectual
The audience is a very curious animal. It is shrewd rather than intelligent. Its mental capacity is less than that of its most intellectual members.
actors know-how knows
By the time an actor knows how to act any sort of part he is often too old to act any but a few.
art may clique
An art is only great and significant if it is one that all may enjoy. The art of a clique is but a plaything.
society politics politician
It is unfair to expect a politician to live in private up to the statements he makes in public.