James Payn Quotes

26 quotes in 520 categories

• A nobler example, because a less personal one, of the pinch of poverty, is when it prevents the accomplishment of some cherished scheme for the…
• I never had a piece of toast particularly long and wide, But fell upon the sanded floor, And always on the buttered side.
• A great philosopher has stated that the worst evil of poverty is, that it makes folks ridiculous; by which, I hope, he only means that,…
• And what holds good of verse holds infinitely better in respect to prose.
• A man with an invention on which he has spent his life, but has no means to get it developed for the good of humanity…
• As a rule, anyone who can tell a good story can write one, so there really need be no mistake about his qualification; such a…
• For my part, I do not much believe in the predilections of boyhood.
• In all highly civilised communities Pretence is prominent, and sooner or later invades the regions of Literature.
• For my part, I do not feel that the scheme of future happiness, which ought by rights to be in preparation for me, will be…
• How large and varied is the educational bill of fare set before every young gentleman in Great Britain; and to judge by the mental stamina…
• One forgives the critic - perhaps - but never the good-natured friend.
• It is certain, indeed, that the sacred writers were apt to make great allowances for people with empty stomachs, and though I am well aware…
• Nature of course is the best guide in the matter of choosing a pursuit.
• It is better, however, for his own reputation that the story-teller should risk a few actions for libel on account of these unfortunate coincidences than…
• To the truly benevolent mind, indeed, nothing is more satisfactory than to hear of a miser denying himself the necessaries of life a little too…
• The idea of bringing young people up to Literature is doubtless calculated to raise the eyebrows almost as much as the suggestion of bringing them…
• One would think that in writing about literary men and matters there would be no difficulty in finding a title for one's essay, or that…
• Cultivating literature as I do upon a little oatmeal, and driving, when in a position to be driven at all, in that humble vehicle, the…
• It has often struck me that the relation of two important members of the social body to one another has never been sufficiently considered, or…
• Some Critics on the Hearth are not only good-natured, but have rather too high, or, if that is impossible, let us say too pronounced, an…

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