“When one is trying to do something beyond his known powers it is useless to seek the approval of friends. Friends are at their best in moments of defeat.”
Best
“There is nothing strange about fear: no matter in what guise it presents itself it is something with which we are all so familiar that when a man appears who is without it we are at once enslaved by him.”
FearAll Quotes by Henry Miller
“Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack. We give it orders which make no sense.”
Wisdom“Why are we so full of restraint? Why do we not give in all directions? Is it fear of losing ourselves? Until we do lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves.”
Fear“Instead of asking 'How much damage will the work in question bring about?' why not ask 'How much good? How much joy?'”
Work“The worst sin that can be committed against the artist is to take him at his word, to see in his work a fulfillment instead of an horizon.”
Work“The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.”
Life“Music is a beautiful opiate, if you don't take it too seriously.”
Music“The only thing we never get enough of is love and the only thing we never give enough of is love.”
Love“An artist is always alone - if he is an artist. No, what the artist needs is loneliness.”
Alone“If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having.”
Peace“The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough is love.”
Love“The legal system is often a mystery, and we, its priests, preside over rituals baffling to everyday citizens.”
Legal“The Teutons have been singing the swan song ever since they entered the ranks of history. They have always confounded truth with death.”
Death“Art is only a means to life, to the life more abundant. It is not in itself the life more abundant. It merely points the way, something which is overlooked not only by the public, but very often by the artist himself. In becoming an end it defeats itself.”
Art“No matter how vast, how total, the failure of man here on earth, the work of man will be resumed elsewhere. War leaders talk of resuming operations on this front and that, but man's front embraces the whole universe.”
Failure“True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself.”
Strength“Develop interest in life as you see it in people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.”
Music“I have no money, no resources, no hopes. I am the happiest man alive.”
Money“In the attempt to defeat death man has been inevitably obliged to defeat life, for the two are inextricably related. Life moves on to death, and to deny one is to deny the other.”
Death“Develop an interest in life as you see it the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.”
Life