William Dean Howells Quotes

39 Sourced Quotes

You'll find as you grow older that you weren't born such a great while ago after all. The time shortens up.

William Dean Howells

Her mouth is a honey-blossom,
No doubt, as the poet sings;
But within her lips, the petals,
Lurks a cruel bee that stings.

William Dean Howells

There will presently be no room in the world for things; it will be filled up with the advertisements of things.

William Dean Howells

Our novelists, therefore, concern themselves with the more smiling aspects of life, which are the more American, and seek the universal in the individual rather than the social interests.

William Dean Howells

We invite our novelists... to concern themselves with the more smiling aspects of life, which are the more American.

William Dean Howells

What the American public always wants is a tragedy with a happy ending.

William Dean Howells

See how today's achievement is only tomorrow's confusion;
See how possession always cheapens the thing that was precious.

William Dean Howells

All civilization comes through literature now, especially in our country. A Greek got his civilization by talking and looking, and in some measure a Parisian may still do it. But we, who live remote from history and monuments, we must read or we must barbarise.

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