Laurence Housman Quotes

A collection of quotes by Laurence Housman.

Laurence Housman (1865-1959) was an influential English writer, illustrator, and activist. Born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Housman came from a family of prominent intellectuals. He studied at the Royal College of Art and pursued a career as an artist, focusing primarily on book illustrations.

Housman gained recognition for his illustrations in various literary works, collaborating with well-known authors such as Thomas Hardy and George Meredith. In addition to his artistic contributions, he was an accomplished writer, particularly in the genre of children's literature. His notable works include "Prunella" (1906) and "Stories From The Arabian Nights" (1907).

Beyond his creative endeavors, Housman was an active advocate for various political and social causes, aligning himself with the suffrage movement and the fight against censorship. He used his writing and public speaking skills to raise awareness about the importance of social justice and gender equality.

Laurence Housman's legacy extends to his influence on the LGBTQ+ community. As a gay man during a time when homosexuality was heavily stigmatized, he addressed themes of same-sex desire and sexuality in his works. Housman's writings often challenged societal norms and contributed to the growing recognition and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in early 20th-century Britain.

Throughout his life, Housman remained an unwavering advocate for social reform, both through his art and activism, leaving a lasting impact on literature, illustration, and civil rights.

My failure, during the first five or six years of my art tra

My failure, during the first five or six years of my art training, to get set in the right direction, and the disappointment which it caused me, drove me the more persistently into writing as an alternative.

Laurence Housman

Failure

I was just then going through a healthy reaction from the or

I was just then going through a healthy reaction from the orthodoxy of my youth religion had become for me not so much a possession as an obsession, which I was trying to throw off, and this iconoclastic tale of an imaginary tribe was the result.

Laurence Housman

Religion

It is the sincerest thing I have written, caught by the dram

It is the sincerest thing I have written, caught by the drama of a soul struggling in the contrary toils of love and religion - death brought them into harmony.

Laurence Housman

Religion

Suicide is possible, but not probable hanging, I trust, is e

Suicide is possible, but not probable hanging, I trust, is even more unlikely for I hope that, by the time I die, my countrymen will have become civilised enough to abolish capital punishment.

Laurence Housman

Trust