As the tragic writer rids us of what is petty and ignoble in our nature, so also the humorist rids us of what is cautious, calculating, and priggish – about half of our social conscience, indeed. Both of them permit us, in blessed moments of revelation, to soar above the common level of our lives.

— Robertson Davies

Robertson Davies Quotes

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

— Robertson Davies

Courage About Strength Deep About Life About People Adversity

Pornography is rather like trying to find out about a Beethoven symphony by having somebody tell you about it and perhaps hum a few bars.

— Robertson Davies

If you’re going to do something that looks evil, don’t smear it with icing and pretend it’s good; just bloody well do it and keep your eyes peeled.

— Robertson Davies

Very often when I am introduced to women, I think, What is she really like behind the disguise which she wears? And very often I discover that she is pleasant enough, and probably would expand and glow if she received enough affection.

— Robertson Davies

Although I am almost illiterate mathematically, I grasped very early in life that any one who can count to ten can count upward indefinitely if he is fool enough to do so.

— Robertson Davies

Be sure to choose what you believe and why you believe it, because if you don’t choose your beliefs, you may be certain that some belief, and probably not a very credible one, will choose you.

— Robertson Davies

When one is traveling, one must expect to spend a certain amount of money foolishly.

— Robertson Davies

We live in a world where bulk is equated with quality.

— Robertson Davies

I think we should see whether we are wise trying to educate everybody to a high standard the way we are trying to do now. There has to be a high level of education so everybody is literate, but whether university education is necessary for everyone is open to question.

— Robertson Davies

Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular.

— Robertson Davies

Nobody who looks as though he enjoyed life is ever called distinguished, though he is a man in a million.

— Robertson Davies

On the whole, we treat the Devil shamefully, and the worse we treat Him the more He laughs at us.

— Robertson Davies

The most original thing a writer can do is write like himself. It is also his most difficult task.

— Robertson Davies

In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains and certain aspects of our system pertain to it which are not dependent on any political party. In this sense, the Crown is the consecrated spirit of Canada.

— Robertson Davies

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

Not enough attention is paid to the negative side of fashion. Great effort is exerted to make people look smart, but somebody should face the fact that a lot of people never will be smart, and that they should be given some assistance in maintaining their fascinating dowdiness.

— Robertson Davies

The people who fear humor – and they are many – are suspicious of its power to present things in unexpected lights, to question received opinions and to suggest unforeseen possibilities.

— Robertson Davies

But as a skeptic I am dubious about science as about everything else, unless the scientist is himself a skeptic, and few of them are. The stench of formaldehyde may be as potent as the whiff of incense in stimulating a naturally idolatrous understanding.

— Robertson Davies

Some countries you love. Some countries you hate. Canada is a country you worry about.

— Robertson Davies

I have no skills with machines. I fear them, and because I cannot help attributing human qualities to them, I suspect that they hate me and will kill me if they can.

— Robertson Davies

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