649 Quotes by H. G. Wells

Ambition – what is the good of pride of place when you cannot appear there? What is the good of the love of woman when her name must needs be Delilah?

We are to turn our backs for a space upon the insistent examination of the thing that is, and face towards the freer air, the ampler spaces of the thing that perhaps might be.

As mankind ‘matures,’ as it becomes more possible to be frank in the scrutiny of the self and others and in the publication of one’s findings, biography and autobiography will take the place of fiction for the investigation and discussion of character.

This is a mood, however, that comes to me now, I thank God, more rarely. I have withdrawn myself from the confusion of cities and multitudes, and spend my days surrounded by wise books, – bright windows in this life of ours, lit by the shining souls of men.

A time will come when men will sit with history before them or with some old newspaper before them and ask incredulously,“Was there ever such a world?”

Not to go on all-fours; that is the Law. Are we not Men? “Not to suck up Drink; that is the Law. Are we not Men? “Not to eat Fish or Flesh; that is the Law. Are we not Men? “Not to claw the Bark of Trees; that is the Law. Are we not Men? “Not to chase other Men; that is the Law. Are we not Men?

I am just a human being – solid, needing food and drink, needing covering too – But I’m invisible. You see? Invisible. Simple idea. Invisible.

And I have by me, for my comfort, two strange white flowers – shriveled now, and brown and flat and brittle – to witness that even when mind and strength had gone, gratitude and a mutual tenderness still lived on in the heart of men.

We’ve got to escape from narrowness. We’re a movement, not a conspiracy. We’ve got to radiate contacts, and have as many people aware of us as possible. That’s living, modern common sense.