James Payn Quotes

• There are, it is true, at present no great prizes in literature such as are offered by the learned professions, but there are quite as many small ones – competences; while, on the other hand, it is not so much of a lottery.

  James Payn

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• The idea of bringing young people up to Literature is doubtless calculated to raise the eyebrows almost as much as the suggestion of bringing them up to the Stage.

  James Payn

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• The fact is, if a young man is naturally indolent, the spur of necessity will drive him but a very little way, while the having enough to live upon is often the means of preserving his self-respect.

  James Payn

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• Some Critics on the Hearth are not only good-natured, but have rather too high, or, if that is impossible, let us say too pronounced, an opinion of the abilities of their literary friends.

  James Payn

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• One would think that in writing about literary men and matters there would be no difficulty in finding a title for one’s essay, or that any embarrassment which might arise would be from excess of material. I find this, however, far from being the case.

  James Payn

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• One forgives the critic – perhaps – but never the good-natured friend.

  James Payn

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• Nor, in our own country, must we fail to take notice of the establishment of School Boards.

  James Payn

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• Nature of course is the best guide in the matter of choosing a pursuit.

  James Payn

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• It is quite extraordinary how very various are the opinions entertained on this point, and, before sifting them, one must be careful in the first place to eliminate from our inquiry the cases of that considerable class of persons who pinch themselves.

  James Payn

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• It is certain, indeed, that the sacred writers were apt to make great allowances for people with empty stomachs, and though I am well aware that the present profane ones think this very reprehensible, I venture to agree with the sacred writers.

  James Payn

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• It is better, however, for his own reputation that the story-teller should risk a few actions for libel on account of these unfortunate coincidences than that he should adopt the melancholy device of using blanks or asterisks.

  James Payn

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• It has often struck me that the relation of two important members of the social body to one another has never been sufficiently considered, or treated of, so far as I know, either by the philosopher or the poet.

  James Payn

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• In England, literary pretence is more universal than elsewhere from our method of education.

  James Payn

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• In all highly civilised communities Pretence is prominent, and sooner or later invades the regions of Literature.

  James Payn

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• How large and varied is the educational bill of fare set before every young gentleman in Great Britain; and to judge by the mental stamina it affords him in most cases, what a waste of good food it is!

  James Payn

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• For my part, I do not much believe in the predilections of boyhood.

  James Payn

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• For my part, I do not feel that the scheme of future happiness, which ought by rights to be in preparation for me, will be at all interfered with by my not meeting again the man I have in my. mind.

  James Payn

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• But, on the other hand, the occasional and precarious dripping of coppers has by no means a genial effect.

  James Payn

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• As a rule, anyone who can tell a good story can write one, so there really need be no mistake about his qualification; such a man will be careful not to be wearisome, and to keep his point, or his catastrophe, well in hand.

  James Payn

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• And what holds good of verse holds infinitely better in respect to prose.

  James Payn

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James Payn (24)

Birth:	28th February, 1830
Death:	25th March, 1898
Nationality:	British
Profession:	Editor, Novelist

About

James Payn was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. He was an English editor and novelist. Among the periodicals he edited were Chambers's Journal in Edinburgh and the Cornhill Magazine in London. He educated at Eton College, Trinity College, Cambridge, and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He wrote several novels include: Bred in the Bone, Canon's Ward, Lights and Shadows of London Life, Halves, and Mirk Abbey.

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