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The difficulty is to know conscience from self-interest.
William Dean Howells
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William Dean Howells
Age: 83 †
Born: 1837
Born: March 1
Died: 1920
Died: May 11
Author
Biographer
Essayist
Journalist
Literary Critic
Novelist
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Science Fiction Writer
Belmont County
Ohio
William Howells
Self
Difficulty
Conscience
Fame
Interest
More quotes by William Dean Howells
The disposition to give a cup of cold water to a disciple is a far nobler property than the finest intellect. Satan has a fine intellect, but not the image of God.
William Dean Howells
Primitive societies without religion have never been found.
William Dean Howells
What the American public wants in the theater is a tragedy with a happy ending.
William Dean Howells
The wars come and go in blood and tears but whether they are bad wars, or what are comically called good wars, they are of one effect in death and sorrow.
William Dean Howells
If we like a man's dream, we call him a reformer if we don't like his dream, we call him a crank.
William Dean Howells
Do not trouble yourselves about standards or ideals but try to be faithful and natural: remember that there is no greatness, no beauty, which does not come from truth to your own knowledge of things and keep on working, even if your work is not long remembered.
William Dean Howells
By beauty of course I mean truth, for the one involves the other it is only the false in art which is ugly, and it is only the ugly that is universal.
William Dean Howells
People naturally despise a dependant.
William Dean Howells
We are creatures of the moment we live from one little space to another, and only one interest at a time fills these.
William Dean Howells
The book which you read from a sense of duty, or because for any reason you must, does not commonly make friends with you.
William Dean Howells
Is it worth while to observe that there are no Venetian blinds in Venice?
William Dean Howells
I know, indeed, of nothing more subtly satisfying and cheering than a knowledge of the real good will and appreciation of others. Such happiness does not come with money, nor does it flow from fine physical state. It cannot be brought. But it is the keenest joy, after all and the toiler's truest and best reward.
William Dean Howells
How is it the great pieces of good luck fall to us?
William Dean Howells
I wonder why we hate the past so.
William Dean Howells
He who sleeps in continual noise is wakened by silence.
William Dean Howells
Lord, for the erring thoughtNot into evil wrought:Lord, for the wicked willBetrayed and baffled still:For the heart from itself kept,Our thanksgiving accept.
William Dean Howells
The wrecks of slavery are fast growing a fungus crop of sentiment.
William Dean Howells
Why art thou but a nest of gloom While the bobolinks are singing?
William Dean Howells
Inequality is as dear to the American heart as liberty itself.
William Dean Howells
In Europe life is histrionic and dramatized, and in America, except when it is trying to be European, it is direct and sincere.
William Dean Howells
