649 Quotes by H. G. Wells

Human society is based on want. Life is based on want. Wild-eyed visionaries may dream of a world without need. Cloud-cuckoo-land. It can’t be done.

Under the new conditions of perfect comfort and security, that restless energy, that with us is strength, would become weakness.

The thing they wanted they called the Vote, but that demand so hollow, so eyeless, had all the terrifying effect of a mask. Behind that mask was a formless invincible discontent with the lot of womanhood. It wanted, – it was not clear what it wanted, but whatever it wanted, all the domestic instincts of mankind were against admitting there was anything it could want.

No compulsion in the world is stronger than the urge to edit someone else’s document.

There is no intelligence where there is no change and no need of change. Only those animals partake of intelligence that have to meet a huge variety of needs and dangers.

I must confess that I lost faith in the sanity of the world.

Fine hospitality,” said I, “to a man who has travelled innumerable years to see you.

If your life doesn’t end in failure, you haven’t reached high enough. So it was failure I had to achieve.

If we do not end war – war will end us. Everybody says that, millions of people believe it, and nobody does anything.