David Herbert Lawrence Quotes

A collection of quotes by David Herbert Lawrence.

David Herbert Lawrence was an English novelist, poet, playwright, and literary critic, born on September 11, 1885, in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England. He is best known for his controversial novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover," which dealt with themes of sex, love, and class struggle. However, Lawrence's body of work extends far beyond this notorious novel.

Lawrence experienced a challenging upbringing, marked by illness, poverty, and an oppressive coal mining industry prevalent in his hometown. Despite these obstacles, he excelled academically and went on to study at Nottingham University College and later at London's University College. However, financial constraints prevented him from completing his degree.

In his literary career, Lawrence wrote extensively, exploring the complexities of human nature and relationships. His works often challenged societal norms and explored controversial themes, which contributed to his reputation as a controversial author. Some of his notable works include "Sons and Lovers," "The Rainbow," and "Women in Love," which showcased his rich prose and psychological insights.

Lawrence's writing style has been praised for its vivid descriptions, intense emotional depth, and poetic language. He also had a profound interest in exploring the connection between humans and nature, finding solace and inspiration in the natural world.

Although his career was brief due to his untimely death from tuberculosis in 1930 at the age of 44, Lawrence left a lasting impact on literature. His works continue to be studied and celebrated for their powerful portrayal of human emotions, unique perspectives, and unflinching exploration of controversial themes.

A man has no religion who has not slowly and painfully gathe

A man has no religion who has not slowly and painfully gathered one together, adding to it, shaping it and one's religion is never complete and final, it seems, but must always be undergoing modification.

David Herbert Lawrence

Be still when you have nothing to say when genuine passion m

Be still when you have nothing to say when genuine passion moves you, say what you've got to say, and say it hot.

David Herbert Lawrence

Since obscenity is the truth of our passion today, it is the

Since obscenity is the truth of our passion today, it is the only stuff of art - or almost the only stuff.

David Herbert Lawrence

My whole working philosophy is that the only stable happines

My whole working philosophy is that the only stable happiness for mankind is that it shall live married in blessed union to woman-kind - intimacy, physical and psychical between a man and his wife. I wish to add that my state of bliss is by no means perfect.

David Herbert Lawrence

Never trust the artist. Trust the tale. The proper function

Never trust the artist. Trust the tale. The proper function of the critic is to save the tale from the artist who created it.

David Herbert Lawrence

Tragedy is like strong acid - it dissolves away all but the

Tragedy is like strong acid - it dissolves away all but the very gold of truth.

David Herbert Lawrence

The war is dreadful. It is the business of the artist to fol

The war is dreadful. It is the business of the artist to follow it home to the heart of the individual fighters - not to talk in armies and nations and numbers - but to track it home.

David Herbert Lawrence

Having achieved and accomplished love... man... has become h

Having achieved and accomplished love... man... has become himself, his tale is told.

David Herbert Lawrence

The tiny fish enjoy themselves in the sea. Quick little spli

The tiny fish enjoy themselves in the sea. Quick little splinters of life, their little lives are fun to them in the sea.

David Herbert Lawrence

I am in love - and, my God, it is the greatest thing that ca

I am in love - and, my God, it is the greatest thing that can happen to a man. I tell you, find a woman you can fall in love with. Do it. Let yourself fall in love. If you have not done so already, you are wasting your life.

David Herbert Lawrence

The American grips himself, at the very sources of his consc

The American grips himself, at the very sources of his consciousness, in a grip of care: and then, to so much of the rest of life, is indifferent. Whereas, the European hasn't got so much care in him, so he cares much more for life and living.

David Herbert Lawrence

All vital truth contains the memory of all that for which it

All vital truth contains the memory of all that for which it is not true.

David Herbert Lawrence

Life is a travelling to the edge of knowledge, then a leap t

Life is a travelling to the edge of knowledge, then a leap taken.

David Herbert Lawrence

The only history is a mere question of one's struggle inside

The only history is a mere question of one's struggle inside oneself. But that is the joy of it. One need neither discover Americas nor conquer nations, and yet one has as great a work as Columbus or Alexander, to do.

David Herbert Lawrence

I can never decide whether my dreams are the result of my th

I can never decide whether my dreams are the result of my thoughts, or my thoughts the result of my dreams.

David Herbert Lawrence

Money is our madness, our vast collective madness.

Money is our madness, our vast collective madness.

David Herbert Lawrence

People always make war when they say they love peace.

People always make war when they say they love peace.

David Herbert Lawrence

In every living thing there is the desire for love.

In every living thing there is the desire for love.

David Herbert Lawrence

Sex and beauty are inseparable, like life and consciousness.

Sex and beauty are inseparable, like life and consciousness. And the intelligence which goes with sex and beauty, and arises out of sex and beauty, is intuition.

David Herbert Lawrence

The human soul needs actual beauty more than bread.

The human soul needs actual beauty more than bread.

David Herbert Lawrence