Frank Moore Colby Quotes

A collection of quotes by Frank Moore Colby.

Frank Moore Colby (1865-1925) was an American writer, editor, and professor. Born on January 29, 1865, in Washington, D.C., Colby developed a profound interest in journalism and literature at a young age. He graduated from Yale University in 1888 and subsequently pursued a career in education.

Colby became well-known for his literary achievements, particularly for his contributions to historical and biographical works. As an editor, he served on the staff of various prominent publishing companies and journals, including The Independent, The Bookman, and Collier's Weekly. He also held the position of editor-in-chief of the International Year Book, a respected annual publication that provided a comprehensive overview of world events and notable individuals.

Aside from his editorial work, Colby demonstrated a passion for teaching. He joined Columbia University as a professor of English literature in 1903, where he shared his extensive knowledge with countless students throughout his tenure.

Throughout his career, Colby authored several works of his own, including "Nature and Culture," "An Individualist and an Indivisible," and "The Captain's Daughter and Other Stories." Known for his articulate writing style and mastery of various subjects, his works were regarded for their depth and intellectual rigor.

Frank Moore Colby passed away on May 3, 1925, leaving behind a considerable legacy in the world of literature, journalism, and education.

Clever people seem not to feel the natural pleasure of bewil

Clever people seem not to feel the natural pleasure of bewilderment, and are always answering questions when the chief relish of a life is to go on asking them.

Frank Moore Colby

Questions

By rights, satire is a lonely and introspective occupation,

By rights, satire is a lonely and introspective occupation, for nobody can describe a fool to the life without much patient self-inspection.

Frank Moore Colby

Cynicism

Men will confess to treason, murder, arson, false teeth, or

Men will confess to treason, murder, arson, false teeth, or a wig. How many of them will own up to a lack of humor?

Frank Moore Colby

Humor

Every improvement in communication makes the bore more terri

Every improvement in communication makes the bore more terrible.

Frank Moore Colby

Communication

Talk ought always to run obliquely, not nose to nose with no

Talk ought always to run obliquely, not nose to nose with no chance of mental escape.

Frank Moore Colby

Conversation

Sin in this country has been always said to be rather calcul

Sin in this country has been always said to be rather calculating than impulsive.

Frank Moore Colby

Sin

We do not mind our not arriving anywhere nearly so much as o

We do not mind our not arriving anywhere nearly so much as our not having any company on the way.

Frank Moore Colby

Company Companions

We always carry out by committee anything in which any one o

We always carry out by committee anything in which any one of us alone would be too reasonable to persist.

Frank Moore Colby

Committee

Averageness is a quality we must put up with. Men march towa

Averageness is a quality we must put up with. Men march toward civilization in column formation, and by the time the van has learned to admire the masters the rear is drawing reluctantly away from the totem pole.

Frank Moore Colby

Mediocrity

If a large city can, after intense intellectual efforts, cho

If a large city can, after intense intellectual efforts, choose for its mayor a man who merely will not steal from it, we consider it a triumph of the suffrage.

Frank Moore Colby

Politics

One learns little more about a man from his feats of literar

One learns little more about a man from his feats of literary memory than from the feats of his alimentary canal.

Frank Moore Colby

Books

The New York playgoer is a child of nature, and he has an ho

The New York playgoer is a child of nature, and he has an honest and wholesome regard of whatever is atrocious in art.

Frank Moore Colby

Play/games

That is the consolation of a little mind; you have the fun o

That is the consolation of a little mind; you have the fun of changing it without impeding the progress of mankind.

Frank Moore Colby

Humility

I know of no more disagreeable situation than to be left fee

I know of no more disagreeable situation than to be left feeling generally angry without anybody in particular to be angry at.

Frank Moore Colby

Anger

I have found some of the best reasons I ever had for remaini

I have found some of the best reasons I ever had for remaining at the bottom simply by looking at the men at the top.

Frank Moore Colby

Imitation

Minds do not act together in public; they simply stick toget

Minds do not act together in public; they simply stick together; and when their private activities are resumed, they fly apart again.

Frank Moore Colby

Agreement