Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

84 Thought-Provoking Quotes By Robertson Davies

Famous As: One of the Most Popular Canadian Authors of All Time
Born On: 1913
Died On: 1995
Born In: Thamesville
Died At Age: 82
William Robertson Davies was a Canadian author, professor, novelist, playwright and critic. Davies was born in a distinguished and educated family and he also followed suit. He studied at Queen’s University till 1935 but did not graduate and then enrolled at Balliol College at University of Oxford, from where he was awarded a BLitt degree. After his return to Canada, Davies became a prolific writer and contributed to several journals. He had also worked as the literary editor of the magazine ‘Saturday Night’ and then went on to become the general editor of ‘Peterborough Examiner’. Davies published a number of books, plays and articles throughout his life and some of the most noted ones being, ‘The Deptford Trilogy’, ‘The Salterton Trilogy’ and ‘The Cornish Trilogy’ among others. In addition to his literary exploits, he was a noted academic too and taught at Trinity College, University of Toronto for many years before going on to become the Master of Massey College. Whatever he has said or written has become quite famous as his quotes and thoughts and is quoted extensively. Here are some of the most profound quotes by William Robertson Davies that will give you a glimpse into the mind of one of Canada’s most highly regarded authors. 
Listed In:
A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.

A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.

Robertson Davies
The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.

The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.

Robertson Davies
Authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons.

Authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons.

Robertson Davies
Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.

Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.

Robertson Davies
I wish people weren't so set on being themselves, when that means being a bastard.

I wish people weren't so set on being themselves, when that means being a bastard.

Robertson Davies
Love affairs are for emotional sprinters; the pleasures of love are for the emotional marathoners.

Love affairs are for emotional sprinters; the pleasures of love are for the emotional marathoners.

Robertson Davies
To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser.

To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser.

Robertson Davies
Boredom and stupidity and patriotism, especially when combined, are three of the greatest evils of the world we live in.

Boredom and stupidity and patriotism, especially when combined, are three of the greatest evils of the world we live in.

Robertson Davies
This is the Great Theatre of Life. Admission is free, but the taxation is mortal. You come when you can, and leave when you must. The show is continuous. Goodnight.

This is the Great Theatre of Life. Admission is free, but the taxation is mortal. You come when you can, and leave when you must. The show is continuous. Goodnight.

Robertson Davies
Conversation in its true meaning isn't all wagging the tongue; sometimes it is a deeply shared silence.

Conversation in its true meaning isn't all wagging the tongue; sometimes it is a deeply shared silence.

Robertson Davies
This is one of the cruelties of the theatre of life; we all think of ourselves as stars and rarely recognize it when we are indeed mere supporting characters or even supernumeraries.

This is one of the cruelties of the theatre of life; we all think of ourselves as stars and rarely recognize it when we are indeed mere supporting characters or even supernumeraries.

Robertson Davies
If you don't hurry up and let life know what you want, life will damned soon show you what you'll get.

If you don't hurry up and let life know what you want, life will damned soon show you what you'll get.

Robertson Davies
It was as though she was an exile from a world that saw things her way

It was as though she was an exile from a world that saw things her way

Robertson Davies
One learns one’s mystery at the price of one’s innocence.

One learns one’s mystery at the price of one’s innocence.

Robertson Davies
Money, it is often said, does not bring happiness; it must be added, however, that it makes it possible to support unhappiness with exemplary fortitude.

Money, it is often said, does not bring happiness; it must be added, however, that it makes it possible to support unhappiness with exemplary fortitude.

Robertson Davies
A happy childhood has spoiled many a promising life.

A happy childhood has spoiled many a promising life.

Robertson Davies
Everything matters. The Universe is approximately fifteen billion years old, and I swear that in all that time, nothing has ever happened that has not mattered, has not contributed in some way to the totality.

Everything matters. The Universe is approximately fifteen billion years old, and I swear that in all that time, nothing has ever happened that has not mattered, has not contributed in some way to the totality.

Robertson Davies
I was afraid and did not know what I feared, which is the worst kind of fear.

I was afraid and did not know what I feared, which is the worst kind of fear.

Robertson Davies
Fanaticism is overcompensation for doubt.

Fanaticism is overcompensation for doubt.

Robertson Davies
To be apt in quotation is a splendid and dangerous gift. Splendid, because it ornaments a man's speech with other men's jewels; dangerous, for the same reason.

To be apt in quotation is a splendid and dangerous gift. Splendid, because it ornaments a man's speech with other men's jewels; dangerous, for the same reason.

Robertson Davies
All real fantasy is serious. Only faked fantasy is not serious. That is why it is so wrong to impose faked fantasy on children....

All real fantasy is serious. Only faked fantasy is not serious. That is why it is so wrong to impose faked fantasy on children....

Robertson Davies
Nothing grows old-fashioned so fast as modernity.

Nothing grows old-fashioned so fast as modernity.

Robertson Davies
On the whole, we treat the Devil shamefully, and the worse we treat Him the more He laughs at us.

On the whole, we treat the Devil shamefully, and the worse we treat Him the more He laughs at us.

Robertson Davies
I never heard of anyone who was really literate or who ever really loved books who wanted to suppress any of them.

I never heard of anyone who was really literate or who ever really loved books who wanted to suppress any of them.

Robertson Davies
Every man is wise when attacked by a mad dog; fewer when pursued by a mad woman; only the wisest survive when attacked by a mad notion.

Every man is wise when attacked by a mad dog; fewer when pursued by a mad woman; only the wisest survive when attacked by a mad notion.

Robertson Davies
There is absolutely no point in sitting down to write a book unless you feel that you must write that book, or else go mad, or die.

There is absolutely no point in sitting down to write a book unless you feel that you must write that book, or else go mad, or die.

Robertson Davies
God, youth is a terrible time! So much feeling and so little notion of how to handle it!

God, youth is a terrible time! So much feeling and so little notion of how to handle it!

Robertson Davies
You're all mad for words. Words are just farts from a lot of fools who have swallowed too many books. Give me things!

You're all mad for words. Words are just farts from a lot of fools who have swallowed too many books. Give me things!

Robertson Davies
No action is ever lost - nothing we do is without result. It's obvious, of course, but how many people ever really believe it, or act as if it were so?

No action is ever lost - nothing we do is without result. It's obvious, of course, but how many people ever really believe it, or act as if it were so?

Robertson Davies
...one's family is made up of supporting players in one's personal drama. One never supposes that they starred in some possibly gaudy and certainly deeply felt show of their own.

...one's family is made up of supporting players in one's personal drama. One never supposes that they starred in some possibly gaudy and certainly deeply felt show of their own.

Robertson Davies