The Summing UpThis book represents Maugham's life and philosophy in his own words. It is autobiographical in nature, though most of the work is concerned with Maugham's unique and fascinating opinions on the theatre, writing, metaphysics and the interesting people he encountered in his long and successful career. |
From inside the book
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Page 6
I have been more concerned with the obscure than with the famous . They are
more often themselves . They have had no need to create a figure to protect
themselves from the world or to impress it . Their idiosyncrasies have had more
chance ...
I have been more concerned with the obscure than with the famous . They are
more often themselves . They have had no need to create a figure to protect
themselves from the world or to impress it . Their idiosyncrasies have had more
chance ...
Page 123
One idea suggests another ; it is very pleasant to pursue it , even though it is not
directly concerned with the subject . The inclination to digress is human . But the
dramatist must avoid it even more strenuously than the saint must avoid sin , for ...
One idea suggests another ; it is very pleasant to pursue it , even though it is not
directly concerned with the subject . The inclination to digress is human . But the
dramatist must avoid it even more strenuously than the saint must avoid sin , for ...
Page 213
He is not concerned whether it is a truthful likeness ; he is concerned only to
create a plausible harmony convenient for his own purposes . So different may
be the finished product from the original that it must be a common experience of ...
He is not concerned whether it is a truthful likeness ; he is concerned only to
create a plausible harmony convenient for his own purposes . So different may
be the finished product from the original that it must be a common experience of ...
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User Review - wjburton - LibraryThingOne of my favourite bedside books of all time. I wore my first copy into pieces from overuse. I don't know of another book quite like it. Read full review
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User Review - hellbent - LibraryThingThis is one of the best books I read for providing a philosophical view of life. It is a book I intend to read again. Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
able accept action actors admire appearance artist asked attention audience beauty believe better called cause character claim common concerned course critic deal difficult discover drama dramatist easy effect emotion English exciting existence experience eyes fact feeling follow forced French gave give given hard human ideas imagination important instinct interest knew knowledge known least less literature live longer look matter meaning mind nature never novel offer once one's passing perfect perhaps persons philosophers picture play pleasure possible present produced prose reader reason seemed seen sense sometimes sort speak spirit story success suppose taken tell theatre things thought tion told took truth turn universe wanted whole write written wrote young
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Summing Up A Mentor book Works, William Somerset Maugham |
| Author | William Somerset Maugham |
| Publisher | Doubleday, Doran & Company, Incorporated, 1938 |
| Original from | the University of California |
| Digitized | 26 Sep 2007 |
| Length | 310 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |