A woman can forgive a man for the harm he does her… but she can never forgive him for the sacrifices he makes on her account.

—W. Somerset Maugham

forgiveness sacrifice men and women

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

The average American can get into the kingdom of heaven much more easily than he can get into the Boulevard St. Germain.

—W. Somerset Maugham

When you're eighteen your emotions are violent, but they're not durable.

—W. Somerset Maugham

emotions youth intensity

Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water.

—W. Somerset Maugham

It is not wealth one asks for, but just enough to preserve one's dignity, to work unhampered, to be generous, frank and independent.

—W. Somerset Maugham

People ask for criticism, but they only want praise.

—W. Somerset Maugham

criticism hypocrisy praise

More quotations tagged with “men and women”

Just as the water of the streams we see is small in amount compared to that which flows underground, so the idealism which becomes visible is small in amount compared with what men and women bear locked in their hearts.… To unbind what is bound, to bring the underground waters to the surface: mankind is waiting and longing for such as can do that.

—Albert Schweitzer

heart mankind idealism longing water men and women

How ever do we praise ourselves, our fancies are more giddy and uniform, more longing, wavering, sooner lost and worn, than women's are.

His life was gentle, and the elements so mix'd in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world 'This was a man!

—William Shakespeare

He is the half part of a blessed man,
Left to be finished by such as she;
And she a fair divided excellence,
Whose fulness of perfection lies in him.

—William Shakespeare

Have you not heard it said full oft, a woman's nay doth stand for naught.

—William Shakespeare

History

11 Jul 2015 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

A woman can forgive a man for the harm he does her...but she can never forgive him for the sacrifices he makes on her account.