Quote by W. Somerset Maugham

For if the proper study of mankind is man, it is evidently more sensible to occupy yourself with the coherent, substantial and significant creatures of fiction than with the irrational and shadowy figures of real life.

For if the proper study of mankind is man, it is evidently m

Summary

This quote suggests that studying human nature and behavior is better achieved through engaging with fictional characters rather than real-life individuals. The reasoning behind this is that fictional characters are carefully crafted and thus offer coherent, substantial, and significant insights into the human condition, whereas real-life individuals can be unpredictable and mysterious. By focusing on fictional characters, one can delve deeper into understanding universal truths about humanity in a more systematic and meaningful way.

Topics

Authors & Writing

By W. Somerset Maugham

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Say 'no' more than 'yes,' and just make sure you surround yo

Say 'no' more than 'yes,' and just make sure you surround yourself with good people.

Good

That fat speed that I love, that sensation, that's what I wa

That fat speed that I love, that sensation, that's what I want.

Love Speed

They had me on the operating table all day. They looked into

They had me on the operating table all day. They looked into my stomach, my gall bladder, they examined everything inside of me. Know what they decided? I need glasses.

Medicine

To feel greatly, and understand greatly, and express greatly

To feel greatly, and understand greatly, and express greatly, the naturalBeauty, is the sole business of poetry.The rest's diversion: those holy or noble sentiments, the intricate ideas,The love, lust, longing: reasons, but not the reason.

Robinson Jeffers

Poetry Beauty

Goodness is uneventful. It does not flash, it glows.

Goodness is uneventful. It does not flash, it glows.

Goodness

Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.

Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.

Food

A good picture is equivalent to a good deed.

A good picture is equivalent to a good deed.

Vincent Van Gogh

Goodness

Movement is the essence of life.

Movement is the essence of life.

Inspirational Running

It has often and confidently been asserted, that man's origi

It has often and confidently been asserted, that man's origin can never be known: but ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.

Science Man

Hasty resolutions are of the nature of vows, and to be equal

Hasty resolutions are of the nature of vows, and to be equally avoided.

Promises

Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her

Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens.

Ambition

We love kitties, gawd bless their little whiskers, and we do

We love kitties, gawd bless their little whiskers, and we don't give a damn whether they or we are superior or inferior! They're confounded pretty, and that's all we know and all we need to know!

H.P. (Howard Phillips) Lovecraft

Cats