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Cyril Connolly Quotes

25 Inspiring Cyril Connolly Quotes That You Will Love To Know

Famous As: Literary Critic & Writer

Born On: 1903

Died On: 1974

Born In: Warwickshire, United Kingdom

Died At Age: 71

Cyril Connolly was a renowned novelist, critic and man of letters. He graduated from the Oxford University but had a very bad academic record and had to struggle a lot to survive during his initial days. While doing some petty jobs he met the literary editor of the famous newspaper ‘New Statesman’ who inspired him to pursue a career in writing. He started off by writing reviews and was soon made a regular reviewer. This encouraged him to write novels and he wrote two novels which reflected his experiences as a traveler but he did not publish those books. He came up with his debut novel titled ‘Green Endings’ which turned out to be his only published book. Cyril further became the founder of the ‘Horizon’ which was a literary magazine and also served as a reviewer for the ‘Sunday Times’. The most notable work of his life was his autobiography titled as ‘Enemies of Promise’. This book explained the reasons for his failures to become a successful writer in a very humorous manner. Here is a compilation of quotations and thoughts by Cyril Connolly which will give you a peek in the mind of the renowned writer. We have excerpted his quotes and sayings from his famous works. Go through the interesting quotes and sayings by Cyril Connolly.

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Writers

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self." [The New Statesman, February 25, 1933]
Yourself
Cyril Connolly

While thoughts exist, words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living.

While thoughts exist, words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living.
Living
Cyril Connolly

Literature is the art of writing something that will be read twice.

Literature is the art of writing something that will be read twice.
Will Art
Cyril Connolly

...art is made by the alone for the alone… The reward of art is not fame or success but intoxication...

...art is made by the alone for the alone… The reward of art is not fame or success but intoxication...
Alone Art
Cyril Connolly

Whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first call promising.

Whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first call promising.
Cyril Connolly

When I write after dark the shades of evening scatter their purple through my prose.

When I write after dark the shades of evening scatter their purple through my prose.
I
Cyril Connolly

Our memories are card-indexes consulted and then put back in disorder by authorities whom we do not control.

Our memories are card-indexes consulted and then put back in disorder by authorities whom we do not control.
Cyril Connolly

There are only three things which make life worth living: to be writing a tolerably good book, to be in a dinner party of six, and to be traveling south with someone whom your conscience permits you to love.

There are only three things which make life worth living: to be writing a tolerably good book, to be in a dinner party of six, and to be traveling south with someone whom your conscience permits you to love.
You Life Love
Cyril Connolly

There are many who dare not kill themselves for fear of what the neighbours will say.

There are many who dare not kill themselves for fear of what the neighbours will say.
Will Fear
Cyril Connolly

We must select the illusion which appeals to our temperament, and embrace it with passion.

We must select the illusion which appeals to our temperament, and embrace it with passion.
Cyril Connolly

No education is worth having that does not teach the lesson of concentration on a task, however unattractive. These lessons, if not learnt early, will be learnt, if at all, with pain and grief in later life.

No education is worth having that does not teach the lesson of concentration on a task, however unattractive. These lessons, if not learnt early, will be learnt, if at all, with pain and grief in later life.
Life Will
Cyril Connolly

A great writer creates a world of his own and his readers are proud to live in it. A lesser writer may entice them in for a moment, but soon he will watch them filing out.

A great writer creates a world of his own and his readers are proud to live in it. A lesser writer may entice them in for a moment, but soon he will watch them filing out.
Will
Cyril Connolly

If our elaborate and dominating bodies are given to us to be denied at every turn, if our nature is always wrong and wicked, how ineffectual we are—like fishes not meant to swim.

If our elaborate and dominating bodies are given to us to be denied at every turn, if our nature is always wrong and wicked, how ineffectual we are—like fishes not meant to swim.
Nature
Cyril Connolly

Youth is a period of missed opportunities.

Youth is a period of missed opportunities.
Cyril Connolly

Streets of Paris, pray for me; beaches in the sun, pray for me; ghosts of the lemurs, intercede for me; plane-tree and laurel-rose, shade me; summer rain on quays of Toulon, wash me away.

Streets of Paris, pray for me; beaches in the sun, pray for me; ghosts of the lemurs, intercede for me; plane-tree and laurel-rose, shade me; summer rain on quays of Toulon, wash me away.
Me
Cyril Connolly

While thought exists, words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living.
Cyril Connolly (English critic and editor, 1903-1974)

While thought exists, words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living. Cyril Connolly (English critic and editor, 1903-1974)
Cyril Connolly

Neither harsh reviews, the contempt of equals nor the indifference of superiors can affect those who have once tapped the great heart of suffering humanity and found out what a goldmine it is.

Neither harsh reviews, the contempt of equals nor the indifference of superiors can affect those who have once tapped the great heart of suffering humanity and found out what a goldmine it is.
Heart
Cyril Connolly

Always be nice to those younger than you, because they are the ones who will be writing about you.

Always be nice to those younger than you, because they are the ones who will be writing about you.
You Will
Cyril Connolly

Is it possible to love any human being without being torn limb from limb?

Is it possible to love any human being without being torn limb from limb?
Love
Cyril Connolly

As repressed sadists are supposed to become policemen or butchers, so those with an irrational fear of life become publishers.

As repressed sadists are supposed to become policemen or butchers, so those with an irrational fear of life become publishers.
Life Fear
Cyril Connolly

...there is a way of leaving and yet of not leaving; of hinting that one loves and is willing to return, yet never coming back and so preserving a relationship in a lingering decay.

...there is a way of leaving and yet of not leaving; of hinting that one loves and is willing to return, yet never coming back and so preserving a relationship in a lingering decay.
Never Relationship
Cyril Connolly

Both my happiness and unhappiness I owe to the love of pleasure; of sex, travel, reading, conversation (hearing oneself talk), food, drink, cigars and lying in warm water.

Both my happiness and unhappiness I owe to the love of pleasure; of sex, travel, reading, conversation (hearing oneself talk), food, drink, cigars and lying in warm water.
Love Happiness I
Cyril Connolly

A life based on reason will always require to be balanced by an occasional bout of violent and irrational emotion, for the instinctual drives must be satisfied.

A life based on reason will always require to be balanced by an occasional bout of violent and irrational emotion, for the instinctual drives must be satisfied.
Life Will
Cyril Connolly