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Daphne Du Maurier Quotes

Powerful Daphne Du Maurier for Daily Growth

About Daphne Du Maurier

Daphne du Maurier (May 13, 1907 – April 19, 1989) was a renowned British author whose work encompassed fiction, non-fiction, plays, and short stories, but she is perhaps best known for her Gothic novels and compelling characterizations. Born to actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier and actress Muriel Beaumont in London, England, Du Maurier spent much of her childhood at Menabush, the family home in Cornwall, which would later serve as inspiration for many of her works. Du Maurier's writing career took flight during the 1930s, with her first major success coming in 1932 when she published "The Loving Spirit," a collection of short stories. However, it was her second novel, "Rebecca" (1938), that catapulted her into literary stardom. The story of a young woman haunted by the memory of her deceased husband's first wife became an instant classic and was later adapted into Alfred Hitchcock's iconic film. In 1940, Du Maurier penned "Jamaica Inn," another popular novel set in Cornwall during the Napoleonic Wars. The book was followed by the highly acclaimed "Frenchman's Creek" (1941) and "My Cousin Rachel" (1951), both of which showcase Du Maurier's skillful storytelling and ability to create suspenseful, psychological narratives. Throughout her life, Du Maurier continued to produce a wide range of works that delved into various genres, including historical fiction, romantic drama, and science fiction. Some notable examples include "The Scapegoat" (1957), "The House on the Strand" (1969), and her final novel, "Rule Against Murder" (1988). Du Maurier's work has been adapted into numerous films, stage productions, and radio plays. Her enduring influence can be seen in contemporary literature, film, and popular culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"For in the end, it's only heart that matters—all else is a trick of the light."

In this quote, Daphne du Maurier emphasizes the central role that empathy, compassion, and genuine human feelings – often encapsulated by the term 'heart' – hold in life. She suggests that while our perceptions and experiences may be influenced by external factors (symbolized as 'the trick of the light'), ultimately it is our emotional depth and authentic connections with others that truly matter in the end. This quote invites us to prioritize heartfelt relationships over fleeting material or superficial pursuits, reminding us of the intrinsic value of kindness, understanding, and love.

"The wind was a creature, and its voice was like the breathing of a great beast."

This quote by Daphen Du Maurier personifies the wind as a living entity with breath and voice, implying that it carries an immense and powerful presence in nature, much like a mighty beast. It suggests a deep connection between mankind and the natural world, where even the most seemingly innocuous elements can hold mystique and grandeur.

"There are many kinds of love in this world, but not all of them can survive."

This quote by Daphne Du Maurier suggests that while there may be numerous forms of love in existence, not every kind of love is durable or capable of enduring through challenges and changes over time. It implies the fragility and complexity of human relationships, implying that only certain types of love can withstand the test of time and adversity.

"I must go, my friends, I must to the sea. For the sea calls me—it has been calling me for so long now that I can no longer delay it—and I love it more than life itself."

This quote by Daphne Du Maurier expresses a deep and profound connection between the speaker and the sea. The sea represents a powerful, irresistible force that she feels compelled to answer, a call that has been growing within her for some time. Her love for the sea surpasses her attachment to life itself, suggesting a longing, an emotional necessity that cannot be ignored or postponed. It can also imply a sense of renewal and freedom associated with the sea, perhaps symbolizing the unknown, the vastness of possibilities, and the promise of new beginnings.

"The birds were singing. Their voices were like little bells hanging high in the branches of trees and their songs drifted down to the water's edge, silver as music, gay and clear as laughter."

This quote by Daphne Du Maurier beautifully captures a serene and joyous moment in nature. The birds' singing is likened to tiny bells hanging in trees, suggesting a delicate, melodious beauty. The songs drifting down to the water's edge are described as "silver" and "gay," symbolizing a musical purity and a sense of happiness or joviality. Overall, it evokes a feeling of tranquility and peacefulness in a natural setting.

Women want love to be a novel, men a short story.

- Daphne du Maurier

Love, Women, Want, Novel

What about the hero of The House on the Strand? What did it mean when he dropped the telephone at the end of the book? I don't really know, but I rather think he was going to be paralysed for life. Don't you?

- Daphne du Maurier

Think, Going, Rather, Strand

Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind.

- Daphne du Maurier

Happiness, Mind, Thought, Prized

All autobiography is self-indulgent.

- Daphne du Maurier

Self-Indulgent, Autobiography

Writers should be read, but neither seen nor heard.

- Daphne du Maurier

Should, Nor, Read, Neither

And I don't like books which are full of name dropping.

- Daphne du Maurier

Like, Books, Which, Dropping

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