“The world does so well without me, that I am moved to wish that I could do equally well without the world.”

— Robertson Davies, The Diary of Samuel Marchbanks (1947)

About Robertson Davies

1913 – 1995

Canadian novelist, playwright and critic.

“Work is a dangerous and destructive drug, and should be called by its right name, which is Fatigue.”

“Our age has robbed millions of the simplicity of ignorance, and has so far failed to lift them to the simplicity of wisdom.”

“The past is only partly irrecoverable.”

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”

“You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”

“Myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them.”

“Public Disputes warm the Imagination, whet the Industry, and strengthen the natural Abilities.”

“Where we find a difficulty we may always expect that a discovery awaits us. Where there is cover we hope for game.”

“For me, reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.”