James Gould Cozzens Quotes

• In the present, every day is a miracle.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Miracle

  James Gould Cozzens, Matthew Joseph Bruccoli (1978). “Just representations: a James Gould Cozzens reader”, Southern Illinois Univ Pr

  46 Copy quote

• When you can, always advise people to do what you see they really want to do. Doing what they want to do, they may succeed; doing what they don't want to do, they won't

  James Gould Cozzens

  Success, People, Goal

  16 Copy quote

• A cynic is just a man who found out when he was about ten that there wasn't any Santa Claus, and he's still upset. Yes, there'll be more war ; and soon, I don't doubt. There always has been. There'll be deaths and disappointments and failures. When they come, you meet them.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Disappointment, War, Upset

  James Gould Cozzens, Matthew Joseph Bruccoli (1978). “Just representations: a James Gould Cozzens reader”, Southern Illinois Univ Pr

  13 Copy quote

• There never could be a man so brave that he would not sometime, or in the end, turn part or all coward; or so wise that he was not, from beginning to end, part ass if you knew where to look; or so good that nothing at all about him was despicable.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Wise, Men, Brave

  James Gould Cozzens (1948). “Guard of Honor”

  5 Copy quote

• The innocent supposition, entertained by most people, that even if they are not brilliant, they are not dumb, is correct only in a very relative sense.

  James Gould Cozzens

  People, Dumb, Brilliant

  James Gould Cozzens, Matthew Joseph Bruccoli (1978). “Just representations: a James Gould Cozzens reader”, Southern Illinois Univ Pr

  4 Copy quote

• Be virtuous and you'll be happy Nonsense Be happy and you'll begin to be virtuous.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Nonsense, Virtuous

  8 Copy quote

• Real rebels are rarely anything but second rate outside their rebellion; the drain of time and temper is ruinous to any other accomplishment.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Real, Second Chance, Uprising

  9 Copy quote

• Bailey might not have great intelligence or abilities, but his whole aim, thought and study was that of the born leader--to look out for himself; and he did it with that born-leader's confidence and intensity that draws along the ordinary uncertain man, who soon confuses his own interest and his own safety with that of the leader.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Men, Safety, Leader

  James Gould Cozzens (1978). “Just Representations: A James Gould Cozzens Reader”, Harvest Books

  4 Copy quote

• I can't read ten pages of Steinbeck without throwing up.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Pages, Throwing Up, Ten

  "Books: The Hermit of Lambertville". "TIME" Magazine, September 2, 1957.

  7 Copy quote

• The first test of ability and intelligence is to find a field of endeavor in which profits are large and risks small.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Risk, Tests, Fields

  James Gould Cozzens (1978). “Just Representations: A James Gould Cozzens Reader”, Harvest Books

  4 Copy quote

• A cynic is just a man who found out when he was ten that there wasn't any Santa Claus, and he's still upset.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Funny, Men, Upset

  James Gould Cozzens, Matthew Joseph Bruccoli (1978). “Just representations: a James Gould Cozzens reader”, Southern Illinois Univ Pr

  8 Copy quote

• Because in fact I only lived to write, see no sense in life, have only forced "interests," wish every night, not urgently but quite definitely I could just not wake up tomorrow.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Writing, Night, Wish

  4 Copy quote

• I meditate and put on a rubber tire with three bottles of beer. Most of the time I just sit picking my nose and thinking.

  James Gould Cozzens

  Beer, Thinking, Meditation

  7 Copy quote

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