I was led to my author today by a man named Martin Gabel, an award winning stage actor from the mid 20th Century. I’m not positive the quote I went looking for was correct, but I ended up in some great ones anyway.

W. Somerset Maugham was a British writer who wrote in just about every form you could at the time: Plays, Novels, Short Stories. He served in the Red Cross during WWI and was recruited into the British Secret Service in 1916.

The man’s views on writing are solid. Other aspects of life are a bit more fragile. Due to the time he lived in there were secrets he kept and veils he hid behind that could only do damage to the man within. I’m giving you today his thoughts about writing with a few thrown in that influence you as a writer

13 Quotes from W. Somerset Maugham

It seems that the creative faculty and the critical faculty cannot exist together in their highest perfection.
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The crown of literature is poetry.
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It is unsafe to take your reader for more of a fool than he is.
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The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit.
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The artist produces for the liberation of his soul. It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down the hill.
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When you choose your friends, don’t be short-changed by choosing personality over character.
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There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
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It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.
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It wasn’t until late in life that I discovered how easy it is to say, ‘I don’t know.’
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Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.
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People ask for criticism, but they only want praise.
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Writing is the supreme solace.
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Habits in writing as in life are only useful if they are broken as soon as they cease to be advantageous.

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For more Writer’s Quotes Wednesday click HERE to visit SilverThreading.com, and check out the comments below for links to more #BeWoW articles. (#BeWoW stands for Be Writing on Wednesday, Be Wonderful on Wednesday, writing positively.)

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