More quotes by W. Somerset Maugham

"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."
"The artist produces for the liberation of his soul. It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down the hill."
"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 great tragedy of life is not that men perish, but that they cease to love."
"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."