Andre Maurois Quotes

Powerful Andre Maurois for Daily Growth

About Andre Maurois

André Maurois, born Emile-Auguste-Marie-Julien Maury on February 1, 1885, in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France, was a prolific writer who made significant contributions to French literature in the 20th century. Born into a modest family, Maurois' early life was marked by financial struggles and frequent moves. Despite these hardships, he developed a deep love for reading and writing, which he nurtured through his encounters with various works of literature. His first novel, "Le Moulin de Dampierre," was published when he was only 19 years old. Maurois' writing career took off after World War I, where he served as a war correspondent for Harper's Magazine. His experiences during the war significantly influenced his work, as seen in his novel "The Silent Battle," which explored the psychological impact of the war on soldiers. In 1920, Maurois moved to England and became a naturalized British citizen. This move exposed him to Anglo-American culture, further enriching his works with diverse influences. Notable among these works is "A Masterpiece of Youth" (1932), an autobiographical novel that recounts his early life and struggles. Maurois' literary achievements were recognized worldwide. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1960, which he shared with the American author John Steinbeck. His works, characterized by their wit, charm, and psychological insight, include "Vie de Gabriel Mourey" (The Life of Saint-Exupéry), "Vie de César" (The Life of César), and "Vie de Phocion." André Maurois passed away on July 9, 1967, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to captivate readers today. His quotes reflect his profound understanding of human nature, as seen in this famous quote: "To love another person is to see the face of God."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The secret of love is to forgive and forget."

This quote by Andre Maurois implies that a crucial aspect of loving someone involves forgiveness and letting go of past transgressions or hurts. Forgiving means releasing resentment and not holding past mistakes against the other person, while forgetting signifies moving on from the incident without bringing it up again in the future. This allows love to continue flourishing, unburdened by grudges and bitterness.


"To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect."

This quote by Andre Maurois suggests that an open-minded, forward-thinking individual is one who anticipates or welcomes the unconventional, unusual, or surprising (the 'unexpected'). It implies that such individuals are adaptable to change and innovative in their thinking, qualities essential for navigating and thriving in a rapidly evolving world. This perspective reflects a modern intellect, as it embodies flexibility, curiosity, and resilience - attributes that help us embrace the unknown and turn it into new opportunities.


"It is better to travel well than to arrive."

The quote emphasizes that the journey, not just the destination, holds value and significance in life. It suggests that the personal growth, experiences, and memories made along the way are equally important as reaching a goal or achieving success. The message encourages people to enjoy the process of learning, exploring, and living fully in every stage of their lives.


"A truly great book should be read in youth, only then will its true import be understood."

This quote by Andre Maurois suggests that a profound understanding of a truly great book can only be fully grasped during one's youth. The reasoning behind this is that a younger mind, open to new ideas and experiences, has the capacity to fully immerse itself in the themes, lessons, and emotions conveyed by the literature, thus enabling a deeper comprehension and appreciation of its true significance. As we grow older, our perspectives might change, but the initial impact made on us during our formative years could remain indelible.


"The worst thing about success is to try to find someone who is happy for you."

This quote suggests that one potential challenge of achieving success is finding people who genuinely celebrate and support it. Often, instead of genuine happiness or congratulations, the successful person encounters envy, jealousy, or resentment from others. The quote highlights the unfortunate social dynamic where some individuals struggle to be genuinely happy for others' accomplishments, rather than viewing them as a threat or feeling overshadowed.


The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one's opinion but rather to know it.

- Andre Maurois

Defend, Rather, Part, Argument

Memory is a great artist. For every man and for every woman it makes the recollection of his or her life a work of art and an unfaithful record.

- Andre Maurois

Art, Woman, Memory, Unfaithful

No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity.

- Andre Maurois

Original, Profoundly, Does, Eccentricity

Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.

- Andre Maurois

Family, Alone, World, Trembles

A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short.

- Andre Maurois

Marriage, Always, Which, Conversation

Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.

- Andre Maurois

Funny, Constant, Improved, Vastly

Self-pity comes so naturally to all of us. The most solid happiness can be shaken by the compassion of a fool.

- Andre Maurois

Most, Solid, Naturally, Self-Pity

Growing old is no more than a bad habit which a busy person has no time to form.

- Andre Maurois

Age, No Time, Which, Busy Person

We appreciate frankness from those who like us. Frankness from others is called insolence.

- Andre Maurois

Appreciate, Like, Frankness, Insolence

The really great novel tends to be the exact negative of its author's life.

- Andre Maurois

Great, Negative, Author, Exact

A marriage without conflicts is almost as inconceivable as a nation without crises.

- Andre Maurois

Marriage, Inconceivable, Conflicts

An artist must be a reactionary. He has to stand out against the tenor of the age and not go flopping along.

- Andre Maurois

Artist, Against, Along, Tenor

Men and women are not born inconstant: they are made so by their early amorous experiences.

- Andre Maurois

Relationship, Born, Made, Women Are

Lost Illusion is the undisclosed title of every novel.

- Andre Maurois

Lost, Title, Every, Novel

Old age is far more than white hair, wrinkles, the feeling that it is too late and the game finished, that the stage belongs to the rising generations. The true evil is not the weakening of the body, but the indifference of the soul.

- Andre Maurois

Game, Too Late, Rising, Weakening

We owe to the Middle Ages the two worst inventions of humanity - romantic love and gunpowder.

- Andre Maurois

Love, Funny, Middle, Middle Ages

If you value a man's regard, strive with him. As to liking, you like your newspaper - and despise it.

- Andre Maurois

Newspaper, Strive, Like, Liking

To be witty is not enough. One must possess sufficient wit to avoid having too much of it.

- Andre Maurois

Wit, Having, Too, Sufficient

The effectiveness of work increases according to geometric progression if there are no interruptions.

- Andre Maurois

Effectiveness, Increases, Interruptions

Business is a combination of war and sport.

- Andre Maurois

Business, War, Sport, Combination

If men could regard the events of their own lives with more open minds, they would frequently discover that they did not really desire the things they failed to obtain.

- Andre Maurois

Desire, Discover, Obtain, Events

A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day.

- Andre Maurois

Marriage, Every Day, Rebuilt, Successful

People are what you make them. A scornful look turns into a complete fool a man of average intelligence. A contemptuous indifference turns into an enemy a woman who, well treated, might have been an angel.

- Andre Maurois

Woman, Average, Been, Complete

Modesty and unselfishness - these are the virtues which men praise - and pass by.

- Andre Maurois

Virtues, Pass, Which, Modesty

The most important quality in a leader is that of being acknowledged as such. All leaders whose fitness is questioned are clearly lacking in force.

- Andre Maurois

Business, Leader, Lacking

Smile, for everyone lacks self-confidence and more than any other one thing a smile reassures them.

- Andre Maurois

Smile, Other, Everyone, Lacks

Style is the hallmark of a temperament stamped upon the material at hand.

- Andre Maurois

Style, Hallmark, Material, Stamped

In literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others.

- Andre Maurois

Love, Dating, Literature, Chosen

The first recipe for happiness is: avoid too lengthy meditation on the past.

- Andre Maurois

Happiness, Past, Too, Meditation

There are certain persons for whom pure Truth is a poison.

- Andre Maurois

Truth, Poison, Persons, Whom

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