Quotes by James Payn

19 quotes by James Payn

James Payn, English novelist

Life period: 1830 - 1898

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, as in the above case, it places them in incongruous positions.

Quote by James Payn about philosophy, poverty, hope

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 or even patented for himself must feel the pinch of poverty very acutely.

Quote by James Payn about man, invention, poverty, humanity, good, good luck, life

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 benefit of the human race.

Quote by James Payn about example, poverty, human imperfections

And what holds good of verse holds infinitely better in...

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

Quote by James Payn about respect, good, good luck

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 man will be careful not to be wearisome, and to keep his point, or his catastrophe, well in hand.

Quote by James Payn about mistake, rules, need, good, good luck, man

But, on the other hand, the occasional and precarious...

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

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 'bus, I have had, perhaps, exceptional opportunities for observing their mutual position and behaviour; and it...

Quote by James Payn about 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 at all interfered with by my not meeting again the man I have in my. mind.

Quote by James Payn about happiness, future, mind, man

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

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

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 it affords him in most cases, what a waste of good food it is.

Quote by James Payn about judges, food, good, good luck

In all highly civilised communities Pretence is...

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

Quote by James Payn about literature

In England, literary pretence is more universal than...

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

Quote by James Payn about univers, literary critic, education

Nature of course is the best guide in the matter of...

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

Quote by James Payn about nature

Nor, in our own country, must we fail to take notice of...

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

Quote by James Payn about country, school

One forgives the critic perhaps but never the...

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

Quote by James Payn about literary critic, good, good luck

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 any embarrassment which might arise would be from excess of material. I find this, however, far from being the...

Quote by James Payn about excess, literary critic, writing, man, being

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 opinion of the abilities of their literary friends.

Quote by James Payn about ability, literary critic, opinion, impossible, good, good luck

There are, it is true, at present no great prizes in literature such as are offered by the learned professions, but there are quite as many small ones - competences, while, on the other hand, it is not so much of a lottery.

Quote by James Payn about truth, literature, present

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 far and ridding us of his presence altogether.

Quote by James Payn about mind, nothing, life

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