67 Quotes by William Dean Howells

It's a curious thing, this thing we call civilization...we think it is an affair of epochs, and nations. It's really an affair of individuals. One brother will be civilized and the other a barbarian...All civilization comes through literature now, especially in our country. A Greek got his civilization by talking and looking, and in some measure a Parisian may still do it. But we, who live remote from history and monuments, we must read or we must barbarise.

I wonder why we hate the past so.

The wars come and go in blood and tears; but whether they are bad wars, or what are comically called good wars, they are of one effect in death and sorrow.

The secret of a man who is universally interesting is that he is universally interested.

A man never sees all that his mother has been to him until it’s too late to let her know that he sees it.

If ever the public was betrayed by its press, it’s ours.

All civilization comes through literature now, especially in our country. A Greek got his civilization by talking and looking, and in some measure a Parisian may still do it. But we, who live remote from history and monuments, we must read or we must barbarise.

You’ll find as you grow older that you weren’t born such a great while ago after all. The time shortens up.

Live all you can. It’s a mistake not to. It doesn’t matter what you do – but live. This place makes it all come over me. I see it now. I haven’t done so – and now I’m old. It’s too late. It has gone past me – I’ve lost it. You have time. You are young. Live!