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 great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The true tragedy of life lies in losing the capacity to love rather than in the loss of life itself.
This quote emphasizes that the greatest sorrow in human existence is not death, but rather the abandonment of love. It suggests that love is a vital force that gives life meaning, and when people stop loving, they lose a significant part of their humanity and existential purpose.
Themes
TragedyLoveLifeHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared during a memorial service to highlight the importance of love in our lives.
More from W. Somerset Maugham
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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.
W. Somerset MaughamRead
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I think that if we can't go back, then we should try even harder to go forward. And I do want to go forward, to a place where loving someone because they have a gentle smile and a friendly hello is as easy as it once was.
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