I know only two words of American slang, 'swell' and 'lousy'. I think 'swell' is lousy, but 'lousy' is swell.

Quote by J B Priestley

Topics: J B Priestley Quotes

Perhaps it would be better not to be a writer, but if you must, then...

Perhaps it would be better not to be a writer, but if you must, then...

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try,...

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try,...

Comedy, we may say, is society protecting itself - with a smile.

Comedy, we may say, is society protecting itself - with a smile.

She was a handsome woman of forty-five and would remain so for many years.

She was a handsome woman of forty-five and would remain so for many years.

The more we elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.

The more we elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.

Britain, which in the years immediately before this war was rapidly losing such democratic virtues...

Britain, which in the years immediately before this war was rapidly losing such democratic virtues...

Western man is schizophrenic.

Western man is schizophrenic.

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event....

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event....

Our trouble is that we drink too much tea. I see in this the slow...

Our trouble is that we drink too much tea. I see in this the slow...

To show a child what once delighted you, to find the child's delight added to...

To show a child what once delighted you, to find the child's delight added to...

To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven.

To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven.

A novelist who writes nothing for 10 years finds his reputation rising. Because I keep...

A novelist who writes nothing for 10 years finds his reputation rising. Because I keep...

Public opinion polls are rather like children in a garden, digging things up all the...

Public opinion polls are rather like children in a garden, digging things up all the...

I never read the life of any important person without discovering that he knew more...

I never read the life of any important person without discovering that he knew more...

We pay when old for the excesses of youth.

We pay when old for the excesses of youth.

We should like to have some towering geniuses, to reveal us to ourselves in colour...

We should like to have some towering geniuses, to reveal us to ourselves in colour...

If you are a genius, you'll make your own rules, but if not - and...

If you are a genius, you'll make your own rules, but if not - and...

There are plenty of clever young writers. But there is too much genius, not enough...

There are plenty of clever young writers. But there is too much genius, not enough...

Accidents, try to change them - it's impossible. The accidental reveals man.

Accidents, try to change them - it's impossible. The accidental reveals man.

The greatest writers of this age... are aware of the mystery of our existence.

The greatest writers of this age... are aware of the mystery of our existence.