James Payn

How large and varied is the educational bill of fare set before every young gentleman in Great Britain; and to judge by…

— James Payn

I never had a piece of toast particularly long and wide, But fell upon the sanded floor, And always on the buttered…

— James Payn

The fact is, if a young man is naturally indolent, the spur of necessity will drive him but a very little way,…

— James Payn

It has often struck me that the relation of two important members of the social body to one another has never been…

— James Payn

But, on the other hand, the occasional and precarious dripping of coppers has by no means a genial effect.

— James Payn

It is quite extraordinary how very various are the opinions entertained on this point, and, before sifting them, one must be careful…

— James Payn

A nobler example, because a less personal one, of the pinch of poverty, is when it prevents the accomplishment of some cherished…

— James Payn

One forgives the critic - perhaps - but never the good-natured friend.

— James Payn

As a rule, anyone who can tell a good story can write one, so there really need be no mistake about his…

— James Payn

One would think that in writing about literary men and matters there would be no difficulty in finding a title for one's…

— James Payn

For my part, I do not much believe in the predilections of boyhood.

— James Payn

Nature of course is the best guide in the matter of choosing a pursuit.

— James Payn

Some Critics on the Hearth are not only good-natured, but have rather too high, or, if that is impossible, let us say…

— James Payn

And what holds good of verse holds infinitely better in respect to prose.

— James Payn

It is better, however, for his own reputation that the story-teller should risk a few actions for libel on account of these…

— James Payn

The idea of bringing young people up to Literature is doubtless calculated to raise the eyebrows almost as much as the suggestion…

— James Payn

In England, literary pretence is more universal than elsewhere from our method of education.

— James Payn

In all highly civilised communities Pretence is prominent, and sooner or later invades the regions of Literature.

— James Payn

A great philosopher has stated that the worst evil of poverty is, that it makes folks ridiculous; by which, I hope, he…

— James Payn

Nor, in our own country, must we fail to take notice of the establishment of School Boards.

— James Payn

To the truly benevolent mind, indeed, nothing is more satisfactory than to hear of a miser denying himself the necessaries of life…

— James Payn

A man with an invention on which he has spent his life, but has no means to get it developed for the…

— James Payn

There are, it is true, at present no great prizes in literature such as are offered by the learned professions, but there…

— James Payn

Cultivating literature as I do upon a little oatmeal, and driving, when in a position to be driven at all, in that…

— James Payn

It is certain, indeed, that the sacred writers were apt to make great allowances for people with empty stomachs, and though I…

— James Payn