“Think of the very words “novel,” “romance” — what do they mean but exaggeration of one bit of life?” — George Gissing Copy Share Image
“Both of them are obvious dwellers in the valley of the shadow of books.” — George Gissing Copy Share Image
Literature nowadays is a trade... the successful man of letters is your skilful tradesman. He thinks first and foremost of the markets. — George Gissing Copy Share Image
“Will not the publishers be kind? If they knew what happiness lurked in embryo within their foolish cheque-books!” — George Gissing Copy Share Image
“Best or worst, novels are all the same. Nothing but love, love, love; what silly nonsense it is! Why don’t people write… — George Gissing Copy Share Image
I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be… — George Gissing Copy Share Image
“The unhoped was all but granted her. She could labour on in the valley of the shadow of books, for a ray… — George Gissing Copy Share Image
“That of the British Museum Reading-room,’ explained Jasper; ‘known to some of us as the valley of the shadow of books. People… — George Gissing Copy Share Image
And why should any man who writes, even if he writes things immortal, nurse anger at the world's neglect? Who asked him… — George Gissing Copy Share Image
“Well, I wasn't going to abuse him. I was only going to ask: Is there any quality which distinguishes his work from… — George Gissing Copy Share Image
Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?… — George Gissing Copy Share
It is familiarity with life that makes time speed quickly. When every day is a step in the unknown, as for children, the days… — George Gissing Copy Share
Time is money says the proverb, but turn it around and you get a precious truth. Money is time. — George Gissing Copy Share
Perhaps it is while drinking tea that I most of all enjoy the sense of leisure. — George Gissing Copy Share
The mind which renounces, once and for ever, a futile hope, has its compensation in ever-growing calm. — George Gissing Copy Share
“I don't advise. You mutn't give any weight to what I say, except in so far as your own judgment approves it.” — George Gissing Copy Share
“The truth was that nature had endowed them with a larger share of brains than was common in their circle, and had added that… — George Gissing Copy Share
Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable? — George Gissing Copy Share
For the man sound of body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and… — George Gissing Copy Share
Human creatures have a mervellous power of adapting themselves to necessity. — George Gissing Copy Share
I am much better employed from every point of view, when I live solely for my own satisfaction, than when I begin to worry… — George Gissing Copy Share
I hate with a bitter hatred the names of lentils haricots - those pretentious cheats of the appetite, those tabulated humbugs, those certified aridites… — George Gissing Copy Share
