Every production of an artist should be the expression of an adventure of his soul. -W. Somerset Maugham Art
Money is the string with which a sardonic destiny directs the motions of its puppets. -W. Somerset Maugham Money
It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive. -W. Somerset Maugham Men
Beauty is an ecstasy; it is as simple as hunger. There is really nothing to be said about it. It is like the perfume of a rose: you can smell it and that is all. -W. Somerset Maugham Beauty
Any nation that thinks more of its ease and comfort than its freedom will soon lose its freedom; and the ironical thing about it is that it will lose its ease and comfort too. -W. Somerset Maugham Freedom
What makes old age hard to bear is not the failing of one's faculties, mental and physical, but the burden of one's memories. -W. Somerset Maugham Age
When you choose your friends, don't be short-changed by choosing personality over character. -W. Somerset Maugham Friendship
We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person. -W. Somerset Maugham Anniversary
At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely. -W. Somerset Maugham Newyears
I can imagine no more comfortable frame of mind for the conduct of life than a humorous resignation. -W. Somerset Maugham Humor
Death is a very dull, dreary affair, and my advice to you is to have nothing whatsoever to do with it. -W. Somerset Maugham Death
It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it. -W. Somerset Maugham Funny
The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind. -W. Somerset Maugham Success
Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young. -W. Somerset Maugham Imagination
It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one's dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent. -W. Somerset Maugham Independence
Marriage is a very good thing, but I think it's a mistake to make a habit out of it. -W. Somerset Maugham Marriage
The artist produces for the liberation of his soul. It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down the hill. -W. Somerset Maugham Nature
The world in general doesn't know what to make of originality; it is startled out of its comfortable habits of thought, and its first reaction is one of anger. -W. Somerset Maugham Anger
