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Edgar Rice Burroughs Quotes

Powerful Edgar Rice Burroughs for Daily Growth

About Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950), an American novelist and artist, is renowned as the creator of two iconic fictional worlds: Tarzan and Barsoom (Mars). Born on September 1, 1875, in Chicago, Illinois, he spent his formative years in Indiana before moving back to Chicago at age 20. A troubled childhood marked by the death of his mother and a series of foster homes shaped Burroughs' imagination and fostered his love for adventure stories. In 1891, Burroughs left school after the seventh grade and began working as an assistant in his father's coal and ice business. In 1897, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corps but was honorably discharged only a year later due to health issues. During his military service, Burroughs developed a love for horses and spent much of his free time riding. Following his discharge, Burroughs worked as an assistant in a law office, a clerk in a coal office, and eventually opened his own coal company. Despite these ventures, he felt unfulfilled and longed to pursue a career in writing. In 1912, at the age of 37, Burroughs wrote the first Tarzan novel, "Tarzan of the Apes," which became an instant success. The story, set in Africa and centered around a human raised by apes, was inspired by Burroughs' own experiences with animals and his love for adventure stories. Over the next 25 years, he wrote more than two dozen Tarzan novels, as well as nine Barsoom (Mars) novels. Burroughs' writing style combined elements of science fiction, romance, and adventure, creating unforgettable characters and vibrant worlds that continue to captivate readers today. He passed away on March 19, 1950, leaving behind a rich literary legacy. One of his most famous quotes, "Life is a dream, and we are but actors upon the stage," encapsulates his belief in the power of imagination and storytelling.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"And the forests of the world are the only sanctuaries left, and they must be preserved for the benefit of all the children of the earth."

This quote emphasizes the importance of preserving forests as the remaining natural havens for all creatures on Earth. It highlights the responsibility we have towards these vital ecosystems that provide essential benefits to humanity and every living being, reminding us that the preservation of these sanctuaries is crucial for the survival and well-being of future generations.

"From the day that we have embarked on this strange adventure, there has never been a moment when I have not prayed that A Princess from Barsoom might somehow come to my aid."

This quote by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Mars' Barsoom (also known as the planet Mars), expresses the character's longing for help or rescue from a female Barsoomian princess in a challenging situation. It symbolizes hope and perseverance despite seemingly insurmountable odds, embodying a classic hero's journey motif where aid or guidance often comes from unexpected sources.

"By the spirits! How long have I dangled in the void, and what new horror shall I behold when I drop at last upon the surface of this accursed world?"

This quote, from Edgar Rice Burroughs, is a powerful expression of fear, disorientation, and foreboding anticipation. The speaker has been trapped in a state of limbo (the "void") for an unspecified duration, suggesting a long period of isolation or danger. Upon finally reaching the surface of this "acursed world", they expect to encounter more terrifying events, hinting at the harshness and peril that awaits them on this mysterious planet. The overall tone is one of desperation and trepidation, highlighting the trials and tribulations often faced in Burroughs' iconic tales of adventure and survival.

"Thou knowest that with me the past is dead, and all my life is centered in the present."

This quote from Edgar Rice Burroughs reflects a profound focus on the current moment, implying a detachment from past regrets or mistakes. The speaker suggests they have moved beyond dwelling on the past and instead, their entire life is invested in the here and now, emphasizing a forward-looking and present-centered perspective.

"I have seen many strange sights on Barsoom, but none more amazing than the city of Helium, rising from the sands like a beautiful dream."

This quote expresses wonder and awe at the sight of the city of Helium in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars series. The author finds it astonishing and surreal, almost ethereal, as it seems to rise from the desolate sands like a vision or dream. It highlights the contrast between the barren landscape of Barsoom (Mars) and the beauty and grandeur of Helium, a city that stands out amidst its surroundings.

Love is a strange master, and human nature is still stranger.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Love, Nature, Still, Stranger

The more one listens to ordinary conversations the more apparent it becomes that the reasoning faculties of the brain take little part in the direction of the vocal organs.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

More, Reasoning, Organs, Conversations

She did not admire him any more than she had. It was merely that she considered him the Lesser of two evils.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Admire, More, Considered, Lesser

I write to escape; to escape poverty.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Poverty, Write, I Write, Escape

Were there no desire there would be no virtue, and because one man desires what another does not, who shall say whether the child of his desire be Vice or Virtue?

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Desire, Desires, Vice, No Desire

Anger and hate against one we love steels our hearts, but contempt or pity leaves us silent and ashamed.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Love, Silent, Ashamed, Hearts

Death, only, renders hope futile.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Hope, Death, Only, Futile

It never seems to occur to some people, that, like beauty, a sense of humor may sometimes be fatal.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Beauty, Sense Of Humor, Some, Fatal

I loved her. I still love her, though I curse her in my sleep, so nearly one are love and hate, the two most powerful and devasting emotions that control man, nations, life.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Love, Nations, Nearly, Curse

Imagination is but another name for super intelligence.

- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Imagination, Name, Another, Super

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