H. Rider Haggard Quotes

1856–1925 England

Sir Henry Rider Haggard (22 June 1856 – 14 May 1925), born in Bradenham, Norfolk, England, was a Victorian writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations such as southern Africa, Central Asia, Egypt, Iceland and Mexico.

England
Novelists
Short story writers

Also known as: Rider Haggard

Random H. Rider Haggard quote

77 quotes

Civilization is only savagery silver-gilt.

Allan Quatermain (1887)

Human nature does not change, Allan, and wine and women are ancient snares.

She and Allan (1921)

Never before was there such a sudden disrobement of an ecclesiastical dignitary draped in all his trappings.

Heu-Heu (1924)

Superstition is still king of most of the world, though often it calls itself Religion.

Heu-Heu (1924)

The moths are few that fear the flame, but those are the moths which live.

She and Allan (1921)

Those who go secretly, go evilly; and foul birds love to fly at night.

Cleopatra (1889)

But what of names, which often enough mean nothing at all?

She and Allan (1921)

My death is very near to me, and of this I am glad, for I desire to pursue the quest in other realms, as it has been promised to me that I shall do.

Ayesha: The Return of She (1905)

It is only the nervous that climb the highest points of anything, and this is true of fights as of all others.

She and Allan (1921)

The tool carves the statue and the hand holds the tool but the spirit guides the band.

The Ancient Allan (1920)

You may all have noticed that however piously disposed, there is a point at which the majority of women become very practical indeed.

Heu-Heu (1924)

Ah, how little knowledge does a man acquire in his life. He gathereth it like water, but like water it runneth through his fingers, and yet, if his hands be but wet as though with dew, behold a generation of fools call out, "See, he is a wise man!"

She (1887)

[T]he law of England is much more severe upon offences against property than against the person, as becomes a people whose ruling passion is money.

Allan Quatermain (1887)

Oh! it is a strange world, full of jest to those who can see the strings that work it.

She and Allan (1921)

Time and time again have nations, ay, and rich and strong nations, learned in the arts, been and passed away and been forgotten, so that no memory of them remains. This is but one of several; for Time eats up the works of man.

She (1887)

Forgive me since I acted for the best, only until the end no one ever knows what is the best.

The Ancient Allan (1920)

[T]hinking can only serve to measure out the helplessness of thought.

She (1887)

For what man is there who does not prize that gift most rare and beautiful, that one perfect thing which no gold can buy – a woman's unfeigned love?

Cleopatra (1889)

The shaft of my vengeance fell upon my own head.

Cleopatra (1889)

The world is very old and there have been peoples in it of whom we have heard nothing

Heu-Heu (1924)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: H. Rider Haggard (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.