Vereker's secret, my dear man - the general intention of his books: the string the pearls were strung on, the buried treasure, the figure in the carpet.

Quote by Henry James

Topics: Books Quotes

There are two kinds of taste, the taste for emotions of surprise and the taste...

There are two kinds of taste, the taste for emotions of surprise and the taste...

I hold any writer sufficiently justified who is himself in love with his theme.

I hold any writer sufficiently justified who is himself in love with his theme.

Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second...

Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second...

Young men of this class never do anything for themselves that they can get other...

Young men of this class never do anything for themselves that they can get other...

It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.

It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature.

It is, I think, an indisputable fact that Americans are, as Americans, the most self-conscious...

It is, I think, an indisputable fact that Americans are, as Americans, the most self-conscious...

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance and I know of no...

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance and I know of no...

The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to...

The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to...

To kill a human being is, after all, the least injury you can do him.

To kill a human being is, after all, the least injury you can do him.

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance... and I know of no...

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance... and I know of no...

It takes an endless amount of history to make even a little tradition.

It takes an endless amount of history to make even a little tradition.

Live all you can; it's a mistake not to. It doesn't so much matter what...

Live all you can; it's a mistake not to. It doesn't so much matter what...

Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything...

Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything...

In museums and palaces we are alternate radicals and conservatives.

In museums and palaces we are alternate radicals and conservatives.

Cats and monkeys; monkeys and cats; all human life is there.

Cats and monkeys; monkeys and cats; all human life is there.

Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated...

Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated...

What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of...

What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of...

We work in the dark, We do what we can, We give what we have,...

We work in the dark, We do what we can, We give what we have,...

To criticize is to appreciate, to appropriate, to take intellectual possession, to establish in fine...

To criticize is to appreciate, to appropriate, to take intellectual possession, to establish in fine...

The only success worth one's powder was success in the line of one's idiosyncrasy... what...

The only success worth one's powder was success in the line of one's idiosyncrasy... what...