A novelist must preserve a childlike belief in the importance of things which common sense considers of no great consequence.
W. Somerset MaughamI know that I shall die struggling for breath, and I know that I shall be horribly afraid. I know that I shall not be able to keep myself from regretting bitterly the life that has brought me to such a pass; but I disown that regret. I now, weak, old, diseased, poor, dying, hold still my soul in my hands, and I regret nothing.
W. Somerset MaughamCulture is not just an ornament; it is the expression of a nation's character, and at the same time it is a powerful instrument to mould character. The end of culture is right living.
W. Somerset MaughamWriting is a wholetime job: no professional writer can afford only to write when he feels like it.
W. Somerset Maugham