Henry Miller

Henry Miller

36 quotes

Henry Miller, an American novelist, is widely remembered for insights that continue to resonate with readers everywhere. Henry Miller's observations on Work are as sharp as their thoughts on Music, revealing genuine breadth of mind. Discover 46 of Henry Miller's most memorable quotes, ranging across Work, Music, Art, Truth, and Love. To get a sense of their style, try: "The one thing we can never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough is love."

“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.”

— Henry Miller

Death

All Quotes by Henry Miller

“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.”

— Henry Miller

Art

“No man is great enough or wise enough for any of us to surrender our destiny to. The only way in which anyone can lead us is to restore to us the belief in our own guidance.”

— Henry Miller

Great

“Los Angeles gives one the feeling of the future more strongly than any city I know of. A bad future, too, like something out of Fritz Lang's feeble imagination.”

— Henry Miller

Future

“Music is a beautiful opiate, if you don't take it too seriously.”

— Henry Miller

Music

“The Teutons have been singing the swan song ever since they entered the ranks of history. They have always confounded truth with death.”

— Henry Miller

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.”

— Henry Miller

Life

“We live in the mind, in ideas, in fragments. We no longer drink in the wild outer music of the streets - we remember only.”

— Henry Miller

Music

“True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself.”

— Henry Miller

Strength

“In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest.”

— Henry Miller

Age

“The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.”

— Henry Miller

Life

“Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack. We give it orders which make no sense.”

— Henry Miller

Wisdom

“What does it matter how one comes by the truth so long as one pounces upon it and lives by it?”

— Henry Miller

Truth

“Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it, no matter where it leads him.”

— Henry Miller

Future

“Man has demonstrated that he is master of everything except his own nature.”

— Henry Miller

Nature

“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.”

— Henry Miller

Fear

“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.”

— Henry Miller

Best

“In expanding the field of knowledge we but increase the horizon of ignorance.”

— Henry Miller

Knowledge

“The only thing we never get enough of is love and the only thing we never give enough of is love.”

— Henry Miller

Love

“Back of every creation, supporting it like an arch, is faith. Enthusiasm is nothing: it comes and goes. But if one believes, then miracles occur.”

— Henry Miller

Faith

“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.”

— Henry Miller

Death