Elizabeth Bowen Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Elizabeth Bowen

  1. Home
    2. ›
  2. Elizabeth Bowen Quotes

Elizabeth Bowen Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Elizabeth Bowen on Wise Famous Quotes.

Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Dialogue should convey a sense of spontaneity but eliminate the repetitiveness of real talk. Dialogue should convey a sense of spontaneity but eliminate the repetitiveness of real talk.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: In 'real life' everything is diluted; in the novel everything is condensed. In 'real life' everything is diluted; in the novel everything is condensed.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Silences have a climax, when you have got to speak. Silences have a climax, when you have got to speak.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: You must show him your monkey: I am sure he will like that. You must show him your monkey: I am sure he will like that.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out. When you love someone, all your saved-up wishes start coming out.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: A smell of sandalwood boxes, a kind of glaze on the air from all the chintzes numbed his earthy vitality, he became all ribs and uniform. A smell of sandalwood boxes, a kind of glaze on the air from all the chintzes numbed his earthy vitality, he became all ribs and uniform.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: For people who live on expectations, to face up to their realization is something of an ordeal. For people who live on expectations, to face up to their realization is something of an ordeal.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Rudeness to Mrs. Dosely was like dropping a pat of butter on to a hot plate - it slid and melted away. Rudeness to Mrs. Dosely was like dropping a pat of butter on to a hot plate - it slid and melted away.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Plot is the knowing of destination. Plot is the knowing of destination.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Curiosity in Rome is a form of courtesy. Curiosity in Rome is a form of courtesy.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Without fiction, either life would be insufficient or the winds from the north would blow too cold. Without fiction, either life would be insufficient or the winds from the north would blow too cold.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: But what a horrible world 'society' is. But what a horrible world 'society' is.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Sacrificers are not the ones to pity. The ones to pity are those they sacrifice. Sacrificers are not the ones to pity. The ones to pity are those they sacrifice.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Art, at any rate in a novel, must be indissolubly linked with craft ... Art, at any rate in a novel, must be indissolubly linked with craft ...
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Nobody speaks the truth when there's something they must have. Nobody speaks the truth when there's something they must have.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: There must be perfect towns where shadows were strong like buildings, towns secret without coldness, unaware without indifference. There must be perfect towns where shadows were strong like buildings, towns secret without coldness, unaware without indifference.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The child lives in the book; but just as much the book lives in the child. The child lives in the book; but just as much the book lives in the child.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Every short story is an experiment - what one must ask is not only, did it come off, but was it, as an experiment, worth making? Every short story is an experiment - what one must ask is not only, did it come off, but was it, as an experiment, worth making?
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: It appears to me that problems, inherent in any writing, loom unduly large when one looks ahead. Though nothing is easy, little is quite impossible. It appears to me that problems, inherent in any writing, loom unduly large when one looks ahead. Though nothing is easy, little is quite impossible.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: [My early stories] are the work of a living writer whom I know in a sense, but can never meet. [My early stories] are the work of a living writer whom I know in a sense, but can never meet.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: If a theme or idea is too near the surface, the novel becomes simply a tract illustrating an idea. If a theme or idea is too near the surface, the novel becomes simply a tract illustrating an idea.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: I can't see or feel the conflict between love and religion. To me, they're the same thing. I can't see or feel the conflict between love and religion. To me, they're the same thing.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Fate is not an eagle, it creeps like a rat. Fate is not an eagle, it creeps like a rat.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Makes of men date, like makes of car. Makes of men date, like makes of car.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: There must be something she wanted; and that therefore she was no lady. There must be something she wanted; and that therefore she was no lady.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: If you look at life one way, there is always cause for alarm. If you look at life one way, there is always cause for alarm.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Nobody speaks the truth when there is something they must have. Nobody speaks the truth when there is something they must have.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Almost everyone admits to hunger during the Opera ... Hunger is so exalting that during a last act you practically levitate. Almost everyone admits to hunger during the Opera ... Hunger is so exalting that during a last act you practically levitate.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Ireland is a great country to die or be married in. Ireland is a great country to die or be married in.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: That is partly why women marry - to keep up the fiction of being in the hub of things. That is partly why women marry - to keep up the fiction of being in the hub of things.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: I think the main thing, don't you, is to keep the show on the road. I think the main thing, don't you, is to keep the show on the road.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: All your youth you want to have your greatness taken for granted; when you find it taken for granted, you are unnerved. All your youth you want to have your greatness taken for granted; when you find it taken for granted, you are unnerved.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Nobody can be kinder than the narcissist while you react to life in his own terms. Nobody can be kinder than the narcissist while you react to life in his own terms.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: I became, and remain, my characters' close and intent watcher: their director, never. Their creator I cannot feel that I was, or am. I became, and remain, my characters' close and intent watcher: their director, never. Their creator I cannot feel that I was, or am.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The most steady, the most self-sufficient nature depends, more than it knows, on its few chosen stimuli. The most steady, the most self-sufficient nature depends, more than it knows, on its few chosen stimuli.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: To walk into history is to be free at once, to be at large among people. To walk into history is to be free at once, to be at large among people.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Some people are moulded by their aspirations, others by their hostilities. Some people are moulded by their aspirations, others by their hostilities.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Forgiveness should be an act, but this is a state with him. Forgiveness should be an act, but this is a state with him.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Love is obtuse and reckless; it interferes. Love is obtuse and reckless; it interferes.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Meeting people unlike oneself does not enlarge one's outlook; it only confirms one's idea that one is unique. Meeting people unlike oneself does not enlarge one's outlook; it only confirms one's idea that one is unique.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: But to be quite oneself one must first waste a little time. But to be quite oneself one must first waste a little time.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: To foresee pleasures makes anybody a poet ... to seek pleasure makes a hero of anyone: you open yourself so entirely to fate. To foresee pleasures makes anybody a poet ... to seek pleasure makes a hero of anyone: you open yourself so entirely to fate.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: For God's sake, is there no plain man? For God's sake, is there no plain man?
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Nothing can happen nowhere. The locale of the happening always colours the happening, and often, to a degree, shapes it. Nothing can happen nowhere. The locale of the happening always colours the happening, and often, to a degree, shapes it.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: A Bowen, in the first place, made Bowen's Court. Since then, with a rather alarming sureness, Bowen's Court has made all the succeeding Bowens. A Bowen, in the first place, made Bowen's Court. Since then, with a rather alarming sureness, Bowen's Court has made all the succeeding Bowens.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Illusions are art, for the feeling person, and it is by art that we live, if we do. Illusions are art, for the feeling person, and it is by art that we live, if we do.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The happy passive nature, locked up with itself like a mirror in an airy room, reflects what goes on but demands not to be approached. The happy passive nature, locked up with itself like a mirror in an airy room, reflects what goes on but demands not to be approached.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Makes of men date, like makes of cars... Makes of men date, like makes of cars...
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Writers do not find subjects; subjects find them. Writers do not find subjects; subjects find them.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The stupid person's idea of the clever person. [on Aldous Huxley, in Spectator magazine, 1936] The stupid person's idea of the clever person. [on Aldous Huxley, in Spectator magazine, 1936]
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: A living dog's better than a dead lion. A living dog's better than a dead lion.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: At the age of twelve I was finding the world too small: it appeared to me like a dull, trim back garden, in which only trivial games could be played. At the age of twelve I was finding the world too small: it appeared to me like a dull, trim back garden, in which only trivial games could be played.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: People in love, in whom every sense is open, cannot beat off the influence of a place. People in love, in whom every sense is open, cannot beat off the influence of a place.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Also, perhaps children are sterner than grown-up people in their refusal to suffer, in their refusal, even, to feel at all. Also, perhaps children are sterner than grown-up people in their refusal to suffer, in their refusal, even, to feel at all.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Fashion seems to exist for an abstract person who is not you or me. Fashion seems to exist for an abstract person who is not you or me.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: What's the matter with this country is the matter with the lot of us individually - our sense of personality is a sense of outrage ... What's the matter with this country is the matter with the lot of us individually - our sense of personality is a sense of outrage ...
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Pity the selfishness of lovers: it is brief, a forlorn hope; it is impossible. Pity the selfishness of lovers: it is brief, a forlorn hope; it is impossible.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Spoilt pleasure is a sad, unseemly thing; you can only bury it. Spoilt pleasure is a sad, unseemly thing; you can only bury it.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Have not all poetic truths been already stated? The essence of a poetic truth is that no statement of it can be final. Have not all poetic truths been already stated? The essence of a poetic truth is that no statement of it can be final.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: She posed as being more indolent than she felt, for fear of finding herself less able than she could wish. She posed as being more indolent than she felt, for fear of finding herself less able than she could wish.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Good-byes breed a sort of distaste for whomever you say good-bye to; this hurts, you feel, this must not happen again. Good-byes breed a sort of distaste for whomever you say good-bye to; this hurts, you feel, this must not happen again.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The novel does not simply recount experience, it adds to experience. The novel does not simply recount experience, it adds to experience.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Dialogue should show the relationships among people. Dialogue should show the relationships among people.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Disappointment tears the bearable film of life. Disappointment tears the bearable film of life.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: One should discuss one's difficulties only when they are over. One should discuss one's difficulties only when they are over.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The paradox of romantic love that what one possesses, one can no longer desire was at work. The paradox of romantic love
that what one possesses, one can no longer desire
was at work.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Children like change - for one thing, they never anticipate regret. Children like change - for one thing, they never anticipate regret.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: I suspect victims; they win in the long run. I suspect victims; they win in the long run.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Everything ungirt, artless, ardent, urgent about Louie was to the fore: all over herself she gave the impression of twisted stockings. Everything ungirt, artless, ardent, urgent about Louie was to the fore: all over herself she gave the impression of twisted stockings.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Autumn arrives in the early morning. Autumn arrives in the early morning.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Solitary and farouche people don't have relationships; they are quite unrelatable. Solitary and farouche people don't have relationships; they are quite unrelatable.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Are you really an orphan?Yes, I am, said Portia a shade shortly. Are you?No, not at present, but I suppose it's a thing one is bound to be. Are you really an orphan?
Yes, I am, said Portia a shade shortly. Are you?
No, not at present, but I suppose it's a thing one is bound to be.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Someone soon to start on a journey is always a little holy. Someone soon to start on a journey is always a little holy.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The slight sense of degeneracy induced by reading novels before luncheon The slight sense of degeneracy induced by reading novels before luncheon
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: All my life I have said, "Whatever happens there will always be tables and chairs"and what a mistake. All my life I have said, "Whatever happens there will always be tables and chairs"
and what a mistake.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Characters are not created by writers. They pre-exist and have to be found. Characters are not created by writers. They pre-exist and have to be found.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Artists were intended to be an ornament to society. As a society in themselves they are unthinkable. Artists were intended to be an ornament to society. As a society in themselves they are unthinkable.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: No, it is not only our fate but our business to lose innocence, and once we have lost that, it is futile to attempt a picnic in Eden. No, it is not only our fate but our business to lose innocence, and once we have lost that, it is futile to attempt a picnic in Eden.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: What I have found is, anything one keeps hidden should now and then be hidden somewhere else. What I have found is, anything one keeps hidden should now and then be hidden somewhere else.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Raids are slightly constipating. Raids are slightly constipating.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Never to lie is to have no lock on your door, you are never wholly alone. Never to lie is to have no lock on your door, you are never wholly alone.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Habit, of which passion must be wary, may all the same be the sweetest part of love. Habit, of which passion must be wary, may all the same be the sweetest part of love.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: She thought she need not worry about her youth; it wasted itself spontaneously, like sunshine elsewhere or firelight in an empty room. She thought she need not worry about her youth; it wasted itself spontaneously, like sunshine elsewhere or firelight in an empty room.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: We desert those who desert us; we cannot afford to suffer; we must live how we can. We desert those who desert us; we cannot afford to suffer; we must live how we can.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The silence of a shut park does not sound like the country silence; it is tense and confined. The silence of a shut park does not sound like the country silence; it is tense and confined.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The craft of the novelist does lie first of all in story-telling. The craft of the novelist does lie first of all in story-telling.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Though not all reading children grow up to be writers, I take it that most creative writers must in their day have been reading children. Though not all reading children grow up to be writers, I take it that most creative writers must in their day have been reading children.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Proust has pointed out that the predisposition to love creates its own objects; is this not also true of fear? Proust has pointed out that the predisposition to love creates its own objects; is this not also true of fear?
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies. Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: As for Thomas, the longer he lived, the less he cared for the world. As for Thomas, the longer he lived, the less he cared for the world.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup. Memory is to love what the saucer is to the cup.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Reason can never reconcile one to life: nothing allays the wants one cannot explain. Reason can never reconcile one to life: nothing allays the wants one cannot explain.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Wariness had driven away poetry; from hesitating to feel came the moment when you no longer could. Wariness had driven away poetry; from hesitating to feel came the moment when you no longer could.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Love dreads being isolated, being left to speak in a void at the beginning it would often rather listen than speak. Love dreads being isolated, being left to speak in a void
at the beginning it would often rather listen than speak.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Nobody ever dies of an indignity. Nobody ever dies of an indignity.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Silences can be as different as sounds. Silences can be as different as sounds.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Convention was our safeguard: could one have stronger? Convention was our safeguard: could one have stronger?
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: One can live in the shadow of an idea without grasping it. One can live in the shadow of an idea without grasping it.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: Livvy noted there seemed some communal feeling between the married: any wife could be faintly rude to anyone else's husband. Livvy noted there seemed some communal feeling between the married: any wife could be faintly rude to anyone else's husband.
Elizabeth Bowen quotes: The wish to lead out one's lover must be a tribal feeling; the wish to be seen as loved is part of one's self-respect. The wish to lead out one's lover must be a tribal feeling; the wish to be seen as loved is part of one's self-respect.

Famous Authors

Popular Topics

Authors | Topics | About | Contact | Policy | Sitemap

Copyright © 2025 Wise Famous Quotes. All Rights Reserved.