The inert mind is a greater danger than the inert body, for it overlays and stifles the desire to live. — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
The book forces itself into my mind when I am lugging furniture, or pulling weeds. — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
“If you are determined on the religious life, you have to toughen up your mind. You have to let it be a… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
Canada was settled, in the main, by people with a lower middle-class outlook, and a respect, rather than an affectionate familiarity, for… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
“The recognition of oneself as a part of nature, and reliance on natural things, are disappearing for hundreds of millions of people… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
There are times when I think that the reading I have done in the past has had no effect except to cloud… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
“I came at last to a recognition of myself as, in part , a Tom Sawyer who wanted everything done according to… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
The world is burdened with young fogies. Old men with ossified minds are easily dealt with. But men who look young, act… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
Though thousands of people indulge themselves in it regularly, and even develop a taste for it, there is no doubt in my… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
The whole world is burdened with young fogies. Old men with ossified minds are easily dealt with. But men who look young,… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
Oho, now I know what you are. You are an advocate of Useful Knowledge… Well, allow me to introduce myself to you… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
“But one must remember that they were all men with systems. Freud, monumentally hipped on sex (for which he personally had little… — Robertson Davies Copy Share Image
“...the irrational will have its say, perhaps because 'irrational' is the wrong word for it.” — Robertson Davies Copy Share
If you're going to do something that looks evil, don't smear it with icing and pretend it's good; just bloody well do it and… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it. — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Although there may be nothing new under the sun, what is old is new to us and so rich and astonishing that we never… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
If I had to describe my remarks this evening frankly as if I were in police court and on oath, so to speak I… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
The people of the United States, perhaps more than any other nation in history, love to abase themselves and proclaim their unworthiness, and seem… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
I don't suppose God laughs at the people who think He doesn't exist. He's above jokes. But the devil isn't. That's one of his… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Inactivity and deprivation of all accustomed stimulus is not rest; it is a preparation for the tomb — Robertson Davies Copy Share
“My lifelong involvement with Mrs Dempster began at 5:58 o'clock p.m. on 27 December 1908, at which time I was ten years and seven months old.” — Robertson Davies Copy Share
In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
There can be no doubt that Samuel Marchbanks is one of the choice and master spirits of this age. If there were such a… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Nobody who looks as though he enjoyed life is ever called distinguished, though he is a man in a million. — Robertson Davies Copy Share
They're all so highly educated, you know. Education is a great shield against experience. It offers so much, ready-made and all from the best… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
Students today are a pretty solemn lot. One of the really notable achievements of the twentieth century has been to make the young old… — Robertson Davies Copy Share
