66 quotes
Slow yellow river flowing, willows that gesture in tepid August airs, and four children playing at greatness, as, doubtless, great men themselves must play.
Ann Vickers (1933)
It is not what he feels and aspires that moves him primarily; it is what the folks about him will think of him.
describing the protagonist of Babbitt (1922)
Our American professors like their literature clear and cold and pure and very dead.
Advertising is a valuable economic factor because it is the cheapest way of selling goods, particularly if the goods are worthless.
Gideon Planish (1943)
Is it possible that nobody has ever known—that there never has been a completely civilized man, and won't be for another thousand years?
The God-Seeker (1949)
Mr. Blingham, and may he fry in his own cooking-oil, was assistant treasurer of the Flaver-Saver Company.
Kingsblood Royal (1947)
Intellectually I know America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country.
What I fight in Zenith is the standardization of thought, and, of course, the traditions of competition.
Babbitt (1922)
His entire system of theology was comprised in the Bible, which he never read, and the Methodist Church, which he rarely attended.
The Job (1917)
Myron reflected that there are so many people in the world who are eager to do for you things that you do not wish done, provided only that you will do for them things that you don't wish to do.
Work of Art (1934)
I understand you all want to be writers. Well, what are you doing here? Why the devil aren't you home writing?
Maybe if they didn't know it beforehand, they wouldn't find out I'd ever been guilty of trying to think for myself.
Main Street (1920)
The trouble with this country is... that there're too many people going about saying "The trouble with this country is—"
Fine, large, meaningless, general terms like romance and business can always be related. They take the place of thinking, and are highly useful to optimists and lecturers.
The Job (1917)
There are two insults which no human being will endure: The assertion that he hasn't a sense of humor, and the doubly impertinent assertion that he has never known trouble.
Main Street (1920)
Elmer Gantry was drunk. He was eloquently drunk, lovingly and pugnaciously drunk.
Elmer Gantry (1927)
The outhouse was so overmodestly masked with vines and lattice that it was not concealed at all.
Main Street (1920)
He had brought his presents for them down to breakfast — the Dunhill pipe and the Charvet dressing-gown for Harry ...
Dodsworth (1929)
There had to be one man in town independent enough to sass the banker!
Main Street (1920)
He had, in fact, got everything from the church and Sunday School, except, perhaps, any longing whatever for decency and kindness and reason.
Elmer Gantry (1927)