Quotes by

Thornton Wilder

The test of an adventure is that when youre in the middle of it, you say to yourself, Oh, now Ive got myself into an awful mess; I wish I were sitting quietly at home. And the sign that somethings wrong with you is when you sit quietly at home wishing you were out having lots of adventure. – Thornton Wilder

Marriage is a bribe to make the housekeeper think shes a householder. – Thornton Wilder

When youre safe at home you wish you were having an adventure when youre having an adventure you wish you were safe at home. – Thornton Wilder

The best thing about animals is that they dont talk much. – Thornton Wilder

But there comes a moment in everybodys life when he must decide whether hell live among the human beings or not – a fool among fools or a fool alone. – Thornton Wilder

Seek the lofty by reading, hearing and seeing great work at some moment every day. – Thornton Wilder

Providence has nothing good or high in store for one who does not resolutely aim at something high or good. A purpose is the eternal condition of success. – Thornton Wilder

Many who have spent a lifetime in it can tell us less of love than the child that lost a dog yesterday. – Thornton Wilder

Love is an energy which exists of itself. It is its own value. – Thornton Wilder

Pride, avarice, and envy are in every home. – Thornton Wilder

When God loves a creature he wants the creature to know the highest happiness and the deepest misery He wants him to know all that being alive can bring. That is his best gift. There is no happiness save in understanding the whole. – Thornton Wilder

Ninety-nine per cent of the people in the world are fools and the rest of us are in great danger of contagion. – Thornton Wilder

The future author is one who discovers that language, the exploration and manipulation of the resources of language, will serve him in winning through to his way. – Thornton Wilder

Hope, like faith, is nothing if it is not courageous it is nothing if it is not ridiculous. – Thornton Wilder

We do not choose the day of our birth nor may we choose the day of our death, yet choice is the sovereign faculty of the mind. – Thornton Wilder

It is very necessary to have markers of beauty left in a world seemingly bent on making the most evil ugliness. – Thornton Wilder

The more decisions that you are forced to make alone, the more you are aware of your freedom to choose. – Thornton Wilder

Nature reserves the right to inflict upon her children the most terrifying jests. – Thornton Wilder

For what human ill does not dawn seem to be an alleviation? – Thornton Wilder

My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it’s on your plate. – Thornton Wilder