The conqueror is regarded with awe; the wise man commands our respect; but it is only the benevolent man that wins our affection.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Affection, Benevolence
He was in love with his work, and he felt the enthusiasm for it which nothing but the work we can do well inspires in us.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Work
A man never sees all that his mother has been to him till it’s too late to let her know that he sees it.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Mothers, Mother
What the American public wants in the theater is a tragedy with a happy ending.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Tragedy, Beginning
He who sleeps in continual noise is wakened by silence.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Sleep
He kept up with the current literature, and distilled from it a polite essence, with which he knew how to perfume his conversation.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Conversation
Inequality is as dear to the American heart as liberty itself.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Prejudice
It is the still, small voice that the soul heeds, not the deafening blasts of doom.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Conversation
You’ll find as you grow older that you weren’t born such a very great while ago after all. The time shortens up.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Aging, Time
Some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: People
I know, indeed, of nothing more subtle satisfying and cheering than a knowledge of the real good will and appreciation of others. Such happiness does not come with money, nor does it flow from a fine physical state. It cannot be bought. But it is the keenest joy, after all; and the toiler’s truest and best reward.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Praise
The disposition to give a cup of cold water to a disciple, is a far nobler property than the finest intellect.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Benevolence
The whole business of love and lovemaking, is painted by the novelists in a monstrous disproportion to the other elations of life.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Love
If I were authorized to address any word directly to our novelists, I should say: Do not trouble yourself about standards or ideals, but try to be faithful and natural.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Writing
Nothing is so hard to understand as that there are human beings in this world besides one’s self and one’s own set.
—William Dean Howells
We are companions in hypocrisy.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Hypocrisy
The mortality of all inanimate things is terrible to me, but that of books most of all.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Books, Reading
The book which you read from a sense of duty, or because for any reason you must, does not commonly make friends with you. It may happen that it will yield you an unexpected delight, but this will be in its own uninterrupted way in spite of your good intentions.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Books
The religion of Christ reaches and changes the heart, which no other religion does.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Religion
The secret of the man who is universally interesting is that he is universally interested.
—William Dean Howells
Topics: Life
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Thomas Bailey Aldrich American Writer
- Joyce Carol Oates American Novelist
- Langston Hughes American Poet, Writer
- William Saroyan American Playwright, Novelist
- Lionel Trilling American Critic
- Norman Mailer American Novelist, Journalist
- Toni Morrison American Novelist
- William H. Gass American Novelist
- Robert A. Heinlein American Science Fiction Writer
- Kurt Vonnegut American Novelist
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