John Galsworthy Quotes

All pity is self-pity.

In societies no less than individuals, acknowledging our limitations may ultimately be more humane than denying them.

I could be less impatient with people. I sometimes judge by impressions.

In a drama of the highest order there is little food for censure or hatred; it teaches rather self-knowledge and self-respect.

I think it's very difficult, and it requires a tremendous amount of spiritual integrity and discipline, to not be a narcissist in a culture that encourages it every step of the way.

Acting in anger and hatred throughout my life, I frequently precipitated what I feared most, the loss of friendships and the need to rely upon the very people I'd abused.

When we have ceased to love the stench of the human animal, either in others or in ourselves, then are we condemned to misery, and clear thinking can begin.

I am a very sensitive person, very impulsive and emotional.

In the past, I used to argue with those who didn't share my views. I felt this incredible need to 'make my point.' Now I live my life and do my best to be an example of what seems right to me.

The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.

I have labored carefully, not to mock, lament, or execrate, but to understand human actions

In real life, I know to filter all my jerk opinions and my jerk thoughts and my jerk desires.

I have always been a super-emotional dude.

Humility is a super-important factor in all of our lives, and I try to remind myself every evening in front of the mirror, 'Just calm down.'

Become more watchful and anger will be less and greed will be less and jealousy will be less.

Sooner or later, fate puts us together with all the people, one by one, who show us what we could, and shouldn’t, let ourselves become. Sooner or later we meet the drunkard, the waster, the betrayer, the ruthless mind, and the hate-filled heart. But fate loads the dice, of course, because we usually find ourselves loving or pitying almost all of those people. And it’s impossible to despise someone you honestly pity, and to shun someone you truly love.

Everybody kind of perceives me as being angry. It's not anger, it's motivation.

I'm a complete human being. I'm very emotional and loving. I feel, I hurt, I give, I take, and also I think. I analyze. I'm a sociologist, anthropologist.

The first test of a truly great man is his humility. By humility I don't mean doubt of his powers or hesitation in speaking his opinion, but merely an understanding of the relationship of what he can say and what he can do.

If I want to be a better person for whoever is in my life, I have to learn.

One of man's greatest obligations is anger.

If I do three interviews in a day, I can be exhausted, because the process of hearing everyone requires that I empty out myself. While I'm listening, my own judgments and prejudices certainly come up. But I know I won't get anything unless I get those things out of the way.

I might have some character traits that some might see as innocence or naive. That's because I discovered peace and happiness in my soul. And with this knowledge, I also see the beauty of human life.

Literature seems to offer lessons in human nature that help us decode the world around us and be better friends.

My own belief is that most people are trying to do their best. It doesn't mean they have no nasty side, or that they don't have a bad temper, or that they have never done anything they feel ashamed of. But fiction operates on people waking up trying to be horrible, and I don't think most people are trying to be horrible.