The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
The crown of literature is poetry.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Poetry represents the highest form of literary expression, distinguished for its beauty and depth.
W. Somerset Maugham's quote suggests that within the vast realm of literature, poetry holds a special and prestigious place. It implies that poetry, with its rhythmic beauty and profound emotional resonance, embodies the pinnacle of literary achievement, allowing for a unique expression of thoughts and feelings that transcends ordinary narrative forms.
Themes
PoetryLiteratureArtExpressionCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the arts, one could mention Maugham's insight to highlight the importance of poetry.
More from W. Somerset Maugham
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W. Somerset MaughamRead
Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.
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I don't think of the past. The only thing that matters is the everlasting present.
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The world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willing avoids the sight of distress.
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There in the mist, enormous, majestic, silent and terrible, stood the Great Wall of China. Solitarily, with the indifference of nature herself, it crept up the mountain side and slipped down to the depth of the valley.
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To the question, ‘Is the cinema an art?’ my answer is, ‘what does it matter?’... You can make films or you can cultivate a garden. Both have as much claim to being called an art as a poem by Verlaine or a painting by Delacroix… Art is ‘making.’ The art of poetry is the art of making poetry. The art of love is the art of making love... My father never talked to me about art. He could not bear the word.
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