André Maurois Quotes

Few are they who have never had a chance to achieve happiness-and fewer those who have taken that chance.

If men could regard the events of their own lives with more open minds, they would frequently discover that they did not really desire the things they failed to obtain.

One might have said that reason made him flee from reason.

Few are they who have never had the chance to achieve happiness ... and fewer those who have taken that chance.

In literature as in love we are astounded by what is chosen by others.

Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year's time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings.

He who wants to do everything will never do anything.

Almost all great writers have as their motif, more or less disguised, the passage from childhood to maturity, the clash between the thrill of expectation and the disillusioning knowledge of truth. 'Lost Illusion' is the undisclosed title of every novel.

The first recipe for happiness is: Avoid too lengthy meditations on the past.

Men fear silence as they fear solitude because both give them a glimpse of the terror of life's nothingness.

A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short.

Style is the hallmark of a temperament stamped upon the material at hand.

The effectiveness of work increases according to geometrical progression if there are no interruptions.

Above all things never be afraid. The enemy who forces you to retreat is himself afraid of you at that very moment.

Ne dites pas trop de mal de vous-meme: on vous croirait. - Don't talk too badly of yourself: they ight believe you.

Self-pity comes so naturally to all of us.