André Maurois quotes - page 4

Obviously the future must be considered in the light of one's own power to influence events. The man of action cannot be a fatalist. The architect has to think of the future of the house he is building; a workman has to take measure for safeguarding his old age; a member of the Chamber has to consider the possible effects of the budget for which he is going to vote. But once decisions are made and measures taken, peace of mind must be re-established. It is absurd to try to foresee things when the means of doing it are lacking. (André Maurois)
Clearly, the central argument of the opponents to marriage is that it is an institution whose purpose is to stabilize something that cannot be stabilized, to make something last that will not last. All are agreed that physical love is as natural an instinct as huger or thirst, but the permanence of love is not instinctive. If, as is the case with so many men, physical love must have change, then why the promise of a life's devotion? View quote
André Maurois
Memory is a great artist. For every man and for every woman it makes the recollection of his or her life a work of art and an unfaithful record. View quote
André Maurois
If you create an act, you create a habit. If you create a habit, you create a character. If you create a character, you create a destiny. View quote
André Maurois
To be witty is not enough. One must possess sufficient wit to avoid having too much of it. View quote
André Maurois
Old age is far more than white hair, wrinkles, the feeling that it is too late and the game finished, that the stage belongs to the rising generations. The true evil is not the weakening of the body, but the indifference of the soul. View quote
André Maurois
There are certain persons for whom pure Truth is a poison. View quote
André Maurois
People are what you make them. A scornful look turns into a complete fool a man of average intelligence. A contemptuous indifference turns into an enemy a woman who, well treated, might have been an angel. View quote
André Maurois
Lost Illusion is the undisclosed title of every novel. View quote
André Maurois
No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity. View quote
André Maurois
Modesty and unselfishness - these are the virtues which men praise - and pass by. (André Maurois)
Men and women are not born inconstant: they are made so by their early amorous experiences. View quote
André Maurois
The most important quality in a leader is that of being acknowledged as such. All leaders whose fitness is questioned are clearly lacking in force. View quote
André Maurois
If you value a man's regard, strive with him. As to liking, you like your newspaper - and despise it. View quote
André Maurois
Self-pity comes so naturally to all of us. The most solid happiness can be shaken by the compassion of a fool. View quote
André Maurois
Style is the hallmark of a temperament stamped upon the material at hand. View quote
André Maurois
The effectiveness of work increases according to geometric progression if there are no interruptions. View quote
André Maurois
In the misfortunes of our best friends, we always find something not unpleasing. View quote
André Maurois
It is restful to leave one's home; not because traveling does not entail varied and difficult daily actions, but because it removes our responsibilities. Except in the case of official persons, the traveler now lives for himself alone, and is no longer accountable to a community or a family clan. A foreign country is merely a spectacle; in it we no longer have the continual awareness of responsibility. All of us, from time to time, need a plunge into freedom and novelty, after which routine and discipline will seem delightful by contrast. Periods of rest, however, must be brief, but it is amazing to discover how a few days of travel can restore our mental freshness. View quote
André Maurois
Human beings are lazy and it very often happens that one wearies of a new-born emotion for no valid reason unless there is some restraint to stimulate and stabilize it. View quote
André Maurois
Passionate love produces distorted visions of actual people. Men who are too much in love expect such extraordinary happiness from marriage that they are frequently disappointed. (André Maurois)
An exacting leader can always command more affection that one who is indifferent. The best way to impose severity is to have about one only those whose qualities one values. Any man ca easily endure criticism if his character and intelligence are clearly not called into question. To say quickly and forcefully what one feels strongly is the wise course. A sever reproach, if rapidly spoken, is less painful than hostile and sulky dissatisfaction. Subordinates must realize that if an order is not carried out they will suffer, but also that they will be exonerated if its execution leads to disaster. A true leader will always take full responsibility for his actions. View quote
André Maurois
In every young government strength is worth more than ancestral wisdom, but no government can remain young. As it grows older there is more respect for mature men than for old men. The leader who has build his career upon a basis of youth, loses youth. Like the old wolf, he tries to hide his disgrace; he keeps himself fit and affects the fearlessness and excess of a young man; but sooner or later time will make him a senator, then a corpse. View quote
André Maurois
No one judges the mistakes of love - so long as they are accompanied by sincere repentance - no one judges them with more understanding than a woman at once irreproachable and sensitive. View quote
André Maurois
He who allows himself to be devoured will be devoured, and he will die before he has done his work. The man who has an ardent passion for work asks of others only what will help him. He shirks no work that ca be of use and that he ca do well, but he flies from conversations, meetings, talkfests, studios full of phrase-makers. Goethe even advises such a man to ignore daily events if he cannot do anything about them. If we spend an hour every morning informing ourselves about distant wars and another hour lamenting their possible consequences, when we are neither ministers, generals, nor journalists, nor anything, we render no service to our country and we waste the most irrecoverable of our possessions: our own short life. View quote
André Maurois