Literature is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to people who have none. —Jules Renard More about this quote Tags: talent writing literature Permalink for this quote facebook twitter tumblr email
Frederick William was deeply disappointed by his son, the future Frederick the Great, who in his youth seemed more interested in French culture, music, and literature than in the military virtues. The father's disaffection turned to actual hatred, and his treatment became so harsh that the young prince decided to run away, with the aid of two accomplices, Lieutenants Katte and Keith. The plan was discovered; Keith escaped, but the prince and Katte were captured and court-martialed. Katte was sentenced to life imprisonment, Frederick to solitary confinement. Frederick William, deciding that Katte's sentence was too lenient, had him beheaded in the presence of Prince Frederick. This drastic measure had the desired effect; Frederick asked the king's pardon and began to apply himself to acquiring the Prussian military philosophy. —The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes More about this quote Tags: history music escape art youth culture literature Prussia Permalink for this quote facebook twitter tumblr email
The liveliness of literature lies in its exceptionality, in being the individual, idiosyncratic vision of one human being, in which, to our delight and great surprise, we may find our own vision reflected. —Salman Rushdie More about this quote Tags: books art literature surprise delight liveliness Permalink for this quote facebook twitter tumblr email
A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read. —Mark Twain More about this quote Tags: popularity literature classics Permalink for this quote facebook twitter tumblr email