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Robertson Davies Quotes

Powerful Robertson Davies for Daily Growth

About Robertson Davies

Robertson Davies (1913-1995), a renowned Canadian novelist, playwright, essayist, and critic, was born in Thamesville, Ontario, Canada, on February 20th, 1913. His father, William Ormond Davies, was a Presbyterian minister, and his mother, Mary Lillian (Henderson) Davies, a pianist and artist. The early years of Robertson's life were spent in small-town Ontario, where he absorbed the rich cultural heritage that would significantly influence his later works. After attending high school at Upper Canada College in Toronto, he enrolled at Victoria University at the University of Toronto, where he studied English literature and philosophy. His academic career was cut short when he was drafted during World War II, serving as a sergeant with the Royal Canadian Artillery until 1945. Following his military service, Davies returned to academia, earning an M.A. in English from the University of Toronto and subsequently working as the literary editor at the TORONTO STAR newspaper and later becoming the Master of Massey College at the University of Toronto – a position he held for 20 years. Davies' writing career began in earnest with his first novel, "Tempest-Tost," published in 1951. He went on to write over 30 novels, many of which are set in the fictional town of Cornwall, Ontario – a stand-in for his own childhood home of Thamesville. Davies' works often explore themes of history, mythology, and the human condition, frequently through the lens of psychological insight and humor. Some of his most celebrated novels include "The Rebel Angels," "What's Bred in the Bone," and "Fifth Business." Robertson Davies was also a key figure in the development of Canadian literature, helping to establish the influential literary magazine "Tamarack Review" and serving as President of the PEN Club of Canada. He died on December 3rd, 1995, leaving behind a rich and enduring body of work that continues to captivate readers around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"There is a trick in the human nature which says we can do without something, and yet sooner or later the mind begins to shrink, like a photograph left too long in the developer."

This quote by Robertson Davies suggests that when we deny ourselves necessary experiences, knowledge, or connections, our mental growth and potential stagnate over time, much like a photo left too long in developing solutions becomes faded and smaller in scope. It emphasizes the importance of continued personal growth and engagement with life to maintain a rich and fulfilling mental state.

"The secret of my imagination is that I never imagine anything at all. I merely describe what is already there."

This quote suggests that Robertson Davies, in his creative process, does not invent or imagine events or characters from his own mind but rather discovers and describes what already exists in reality, whether it be in the world around him or within his subconscious. Essentially, he is a storyteller who taps into pre-existing ideas and narratives, giving them form and expression through his writing.

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing."

This quote by Robertson Davies emphasizes the importance of personal determination and resolve in achieving success. It suggests that an individual's commitment to their goals, aspirations, and the path they choose for themselves plays a crucial role in their ultimate outcome. In essence, it underscores the idea that self-belief and perseverance are vital ingredients for success, surpassing any external factors or circumstances.

"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a joint on a cold night is one of them."

This quote by Robertson Davies suggests that there are certain shared experiences, like smoking marijuana in a friendly setting on a cold night, which have the power to bring people closer together and foster mutual affection, as they create a unique bond through their shared memories and emotions.

"Everything that we see is a fragment of reality, and everything that we know is a theory."

This quote by Robertson Davies suggests that our perception of reality is limited and subjective - we only see fragments or pieces of the whole, and our understanding of it is shaped by theories or interpretations. It implies that what we perceive as reality is not necessarily the entire truth, but rather an incomplete and personal interpretation of it. This serves as a reminder to question our assumptions about the world and to be open to multiple perspectives and possibilities.

A happy childhood has spoiled many a promising life.

- Robertson Davies

Happy, Childhood, Spoiled

Literary critics, however, frequently suffer from a curious belief that every author longs to extend the boundaries of literary art, wants to explore new dimensions of the human spirit, and if he doesn't, he should be ashamed of himself.

- Robertson Davies

However, Frequently, Longs, Extend

Do not suppose, however, that I intend to urge a diet of classics on anybody. I have seen such diets at work. I have known people who have actually read all, or almost all, the guaranteed Hundred Best Books. God save us from reading nothing but the best.

- Robertson Davies

However, Hundred, Almost, Diets

There is no nonsense so gross that society will not, at some time, make a doctrine of it and defend it with every weapon of communal stupidity.

- Robertson Davies

Stupidity, Some, Gross, Communal

A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.

- Robertson Davies

Maturity, Moonlight, Read, Noon

Only a fool expects to be happy all the time.

- Robertson Davies

Happy, Fool, Only, Expects

I see Canada as a country torn between a very northern, rather extraordinary, mystical spirit which it fears and its desire to present itself to the world as a Scotch banker.

- Robertson Davies

Country, Torn, Which, Banker

Students today are a pretty solemn lot. One of the really notable achievements of the twentieth century has been to make the young old before their time.

- Robertson Davies

Pretty, Achievements, Been, Solemn

The greatest gift that Oxford gives her sons is, I truly believe, a genial irreverence toward learning, and from that irreverence love may spring.

- Robertson Davies

Love, Gift, Genial, Greatest Gift

Authors like cats because they are such quiet, lovable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons.

- Robertson Davies

Cats, Wise, Same, Lovable

If we seek the pleasures of love, passion should be occasional, and common sense continual.

- Robertson Davies

Love, Common, Pleasures, Common Sense

To be a book-collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser.

- Robertson Davies

Characteristics, Miser, Combine

May I make a suggestion, hoping it is not an impertinence? Write it down: write down what you feel. It is sometimes a wonderful help in misery.

- Robertson Davies

Sometimes, Misery, May, Suggestion

The great book for you is the book that has the most to say to you at the moment when you are reading. I do not mean the book that is most instructive, but the book that feeds your spirit. And that depends on your age, your experience, your psychological and spiritual need.

- Robertson Davies

Depends, Need, Psychological, Feeds

We wanted to meet him, for though we were neither of us naive people we had not wholly lost our belief that it is delightful to meet artists who have given us pleasure.

- Robertson Davies

Wholly, Given, Though, Naive

Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.

- Robertson Davies

Extraordinary, Survive, Most, Terrible

Nothing is so easy to fake as the inner vision.

- Robertson Davies

Vision, Nothing, Easy, Fake

Every man is wise when attacked by a mad dog; fewer when pursued by a mad woman; only the wisest survive when attacked by a mad notion.

- Robertson Davies

Woman, Survive, Fewer, Wisest

Tristan and Isolde were lucky to die when they did. They'd have been sick of all that rubbish in a year.

- Robertson Davies

Die, Lucky, Been, Rubbish

The world is full of people whose notion of a satisfactory future is, in fact, a return to the idealised past.

- Robertson Davies

World, Fact, Notion, Return

Fanaticism is overcompensation for doubt.

- Robertson Davies

Doubt, Fanaticism

The quality of what is said inevitably influences the way in which it is said, however inexperienced the writer.

- Robertson Davies

However, Which, Inevitably

The love of truth lies at the root of much humor.

- Robertson Davies

Love, Truth, Humor, Root

Their very conservatism is secondhand, and they don't know what they are conserving.

- Robertson Davies

Politics, Know, Very, Conservatism

What we call luck is the inner man externalized. We make things happen to us.

- Robertson Davies

Luck, Happen, Call, Things Happen

You never see what you want to see, forever playing to the gallery.

- Robertson Davies

Never, Want, See, Gallery

The drama may be called that part of theatrical art which lends itself most readily to intellectual discussion: what is left is theater.

- Robertson Davies

Art, Which, Theatrical, Lends

I never heard of anyone who was really literate or who ever really loved books who wanted to suppress any of them.

- Robertson Davies

Them, Suppress, Any, Literate

Few people can see genius in someone who has offended them.

- Robertson Davies

Genius, See, Someone, Few People

A Librettist is a mere drudge in the world of opera.

- Robertson Davies

World, Opera, Mere

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