A man ought to work. That's what he's here for. That's how he contributes to the welfare of the community.

—W. Somerset Maugham

About W. Somerset Maugham

Portrait of W. Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham ( MAWM; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories.

More quotations from W. Somerset Maugham

It's a toss-up when you decide to leave the beaten track. Many are called, but few are chosen.

—W. Somerset Maugham

We didn't think much in the air corps of a fellow who wangled a cushy job out of his C.O. by buttering him up. It was hard for me to believe that God thought much of a man who tried to wangle salvation by fulsome flattery. I should have thought the worship most pleasing to him was to do your best according to your lights.

—W. Somerset Maugham

Perhaps the most important use of money—It saves time. Life is so short, and there's so much to do, one can't afford to waste a minute; and just think how much you waste, for instance, in walking from place to place instead of going by bus and in going by bus instead of by taxi.

—W. Somerset Maugham

Money is like a sixth sense without which you cannot make a complete use of the other five.

—W. Somerset Maugham

D'you call life a bad job? Never! We've had our ups and downs, we've had our struggles, we've always been poor, but it's been worth it, ay, worth it a hundred times I say when I look round at my children.

—W. Somerset Maugham

History

12 Mar 2025 Added