More quotes by W. Somerset Maugham

"The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind."
"The highest activities of consciousness have their origins in physical occurrences of the brain just as the loveliest melodies are not too sublime to be expressed by notes."
"Only a mediocre person is always at his best."
"I can imagine no more comfortable frame of mind for the conduct of life than a humorous resignation."
"We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to."