James Payn Quotes

• A man with an invention on which he has spent his life, but has no means to get it developed for the good of humanity - or even patented for himself - must feel the pinch of poverty very acutely.

  James Payn

  Mean, Men, Humanity

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  15 Copy quote

• Nature of course is the best guide in the matter of choosing a pursuit.

  James Payn

  Matter, Guides, Pursuit

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  45 Copy quote

• I never had a piece of toast particularly long and wide, But fell upon the sanded floor, And always on the buttered side.

  James Payn

  Long, Pieces, Sides

  'Chambers's Journal' 2 February 1884.

  4 Copy quote

• The fact is, if a young man is naturally indolent, the spur of necessity will drive him but a very little way, while the having enough to live upon is often the means of preserving his self-respect.

  James Payn

  Respect, Mean, Men

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  7 Copy quote

• A great philosopher has stated that the worst evil of poverty is, that it makes folks ridiculous; by which, I hope, he only means that, as in the above case, it places them in incongruous positions.

  James Payn

  Mean, Evil, Poverty

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  6 Copy quote

• It has often struck me that the relation of two important members of the social body to one another has never been sufficiently considered, or treated of, so far as I know, either by the philosopher or the poet.

  James Payn

  Two, Important, Body

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  4 Copy quote

• Some Critics on the Hearth are not only good-natured, but have rather too high, or, if that is impossible, let us say too pronounced, an opinion of the abilities of their literary friends.

  James Payn

  Heart, Opinion, Impossible

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  4 Copy quote

• One would think that in writing about literary men and matters there would be no difficulty in finding a title for one's essay, or that any embarrassment which might arise would be from excess of material. I find this, however, far from being the case.

  James Payn

  Writing, Men, Thinking

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  8 Copy quote

• The idea of bringing young people up to Literature is doubtless calculated to raise the eyebrows almost as much as the suggestion of bringing them up to the Stage.

  James Payn

  Eyebrows, Ideas, People

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  8 Copy quote

• To the truly benevolent mind, indeed, nothing is more satisfactory than to hear of a miser denying himself the necessaries of life a little too far and ridding us of his presence altogether.

  James Payn

  Mind, Littles, Benevolence

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  12 Copy quote

• It is better, however, for his own reputation that the story-teller should risk a few actions for libel on account of these unfortunate coincidences than that he should adopt the melancholy device of using blanks or asterisks.

  James Payn

  Risk, Stories, Action

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  9 Copy quote

• Cultivating literature as I do upon a little oatmeal, and driving, when in a position to be driven at all, in that humble vehicle, the 'bus, I have had, perhaps, exceptional opportunities for observing their mutual position and behaviour; and it is very peculiar.

  James Payn

  Humble, Opportunity, Oatmeal

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  8 Copy quote

• It is certain, indeed, that the sacred writers were apt to make great allowances for people with empty stomachs, and though I am well aware that the present profane ones think this very reprehensible, I venture to agree with the sacred writers.

  James Payn

  Thinking, People, Venture

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  10 Copy quote

• One forgives the critic - perhaps - but never the good-natured friend.

  James Payn

  Forgiving, Critics

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  4 Copy quote

• How large and varied is the educational bill of fare set before every young gentleman in Great Britain; and to judge by the mental stamina it affords him in most cases, what a waste of good food it is!

  James Payn

  Educational, Judging, Gentleman

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  7 Copy quote

• For my part, I do not feel that the scheme of future happiness, which ought by rights to be in preparation for me, will be at all interfered with by my not meeting again the man I have in my. mind.

  James Payn

  Men, Rights, Preparation

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  4 Copy quote

• In all highly civilised communities Pretence is prominent, and sooner or later invades the regions of Literature.

  James Payn

  Community, Literature, Sooner Or Later

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  11 Copy quote

• For my part, I do not much believe in the predilections of boyhood.

  James Payn

  Believe, Boyhood

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  7 Copy quote

• As a rule, anyone who can tell a good story can write one, so there really need be no mistake about his qualification; such a man will be careful not to be wearisome, and to keep his point, or his catastrophe, well in hand.

  James Payn

  Mistake, Writing, Men

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  4 Copy quote

• And what holds good of verse holds infinitely better in respect to prose.

  James Payn

  Prose, Verses

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  4 Copy quote

• A nobler example, because a less personal one, of the pinch of poverty, is when it prevents the accomplishment of some cherished scheme for the benefit of the human race.

  James Payn

  Race, Accomplishment, Example

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  8 Copy quote

• There are, it is true, at present no great prizes in literature such as are offered by the learned professions, but there are quite as many small ones - competences; while, on the other hand, it is not so much of a lottery.

  James Payn

  Hands, Literature, Competence

  James Payn (1882). “Sammlung”

  8 Copy quote

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