Malcolm Lowry Quotes

Powerful Malcolm Lowry for Daily Growth

About Malcolm Lowry

Malcolm Lowry (1909-1957) was a Canadian-British novelist, poet, and playwright, renowned for his complex and profound narrative style. Born on July 28, 1909, in the small town of trail, British Columbia, Canada, to an Anglo-Irish father and a Scottish mother, Lowry's early life was marked by instability and change. His family moved frequently due to his father's job with the Canadian Pacific Railway. This nomadic upbringing would later serve as a significant influence on Lowry's work. Lowry left Canada in 1925, eventually settling in England in 1927 after studying literature at Victoria College, University of Toronto, and Cambridge University. There, he came under the influence of T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, and William Faulkner, whose works would shape Lowry's own narrative style. Lowry's major works are characterized by their psychological intensity, autobiographical elements, and exploration of themes such as addiction, alienation, love, and the search for meaning. His most famous work is "Under the Volcano" (1947), a novel set in Mexico on the Day of the Dead and follows the tragic downward spiral of a British consul dealing with his alcoholism. The book is considered a modern classic and has been adapted into films, radio plays, and operas. Lowry's other significant works include "Ultramarine" (1933), a collection of short stories; "In Ballast to the White Sea" (1947), a novel about a sailor's voyage; and "Lunar Caustic" (1945), a collection of poems. Lowry struggled with alcoholism throughout his life, which took a toll on both his health and productivity. He died in 1957 at the age of 48. Despite his early demise, Lowry's work continues to be celebrated for its richness, complexity, and enduring relevance.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We are all alone, absolutely alone, and I mean alone in the absolute sense: apart from others, cut off from others, detached, separated, and isolated in a way that is more profound than any other kind of aloneness."

This quote by Malcolm Lowry highlights the universal human experience of isolation and solitude. He emphasizes the deep-rooted feeling of being detached from others, which transcends any casual or temporal sense of loneliness. In essence, it suggests that despite our connections with others, we all possess a fundamental sense of individuality and separateness that makes us feel isolated at times. This understanding can help foster empathy and compassion, as we recognize the shared human condition of aloneness.


"I know nothing about God, but I do know that every moment is a moment of grace."

This quote by Malcolm Lowry suggests a profound appreciation for the beauty and significance of everyday moments. He acknowledges his lack of understanding or knowledge regarding the concept of God, yet affirms the presence of grace in each instance that life offers. In essence, every moment holds an opportunity for revelation, growth, or connection, making them all precious and potentially sacred experiences.


"For me, solitude was the most beautiful thing in the world. It was better to be alone and lonely than with people who did not understand you."

This quote by Malcolm Lowry highlights a profound appreciation for solitude and an introspective longing for deep understanding and connection. Essentially, it suggests that being alone is preferable to being surrounded by individuals who fail to grasp one's unique personality or emotions. The beauty in solitude allows for self-discovery, reflection, and emotional healing, which can be difficult when interacting with others who may not understand one's innermost thoughts and feelings.


"All the time I had known it, this ocean, this vast, enigmatic, unpredictable, and powerful presence on the edge of my consciousness, had been there as a living thing, and a part of me, and I of it."

This quote by Malcolm Lowry suggests that the ocean, for him, was not just a natural body of water but a living entity with which he was deeply connected. The ocean, vast, enigmatic, unpredictable, and powerful, represented an integral part of his subconsciousness, reflecting his feelings, experiences, and even aspects of his identity. Lowry's realization that the ocean and he were intertwined underscores a profound understanding of their shared existence and mutual influence on each other. The quote highlights an emotional bond between man and nature, demonstrating how the natural world can shape our sense of self and consciousness.


"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?"

This quote by Malcolm Lowry suggests a perspective where people view life as a source of amusement or entertainment for each other. It implies that humans often derive pleasure from observing others, with roles reversing over time as we all become both spectators and performers in the grand theatre of life. This outlook can serve as a reminder that our actions may bring joy, laughter, or criticism to those around us, encouraging empathy and humility.


Good God, if our civilization were to sober up for a couple of days it'd die of remorse on the third.

- Malcolm Lowry

Die, Civilization, Couple, Sober

War is being declared tomorrow here so perhaps you can understand that I have been working under difficulties, but difficulties negligible compared with what others have to go through.

- Malcolm Lowry

Through, Here, Been, Compared

Long for me as I for you, forgetting, what will be inevitable, the long black aftermath of pain.

- Malcolm Lowry

Pain, Forgetting, Inevitable, Aftermath

Muzzle a dog and he will bark out of the other end.

- Malcolm Lowry

End, Will, Other, Bark

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