Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

65 Interesting Quotes By George Jean Nathan

Famous As: Journalist, Film critic, Writer
Born On: February 14, 1882
Died On: April 8, 1958
Born In: Fort Wayne
Died At Age: 76
George Jean Nathan was an American magazine editor and drama critic, best known for establishing the magazine ‘The Smart Set’ in collaboration with H.L. Mencken, another pillar of American journalism. Nathan studied at the prestigious Cornell University and right from the time that he was a student, he showed a flair as an editor. During his time at Cornell University, he served as the editor of the ‘Cornell Daily Sun’.  After launching his career in the print media, he quickly became one of the most influential editors and drama critics in the United States by dint of his brilliance and knowledge of the craft. ‘The Smart Set’ became one of the most prominent literary magazines in America due to his efforts and collaboration with H.L. Mencken. In addition to that, he had also been the founder as well as the editor of two other magazines, ‘The American Spectator’ and ‘The American Mercury’. Nathan was a man of rare intellect, who in his capacity as editor and critic, was known to speak his mind and express his thoughts on a variety of subjects. Following is a collection of quotable quotes and sayings by George Jean Nathan which have been excerpted from his columns, writings, works, thoughts and life. Read through some of George Jean Nathan’s best known quotations and sayings.
Love is an emotion experienced by the many and enjoyed by the few.

Love is an emotion experienced by the many and enjoyed by the few.

George Jean Nathan
A man reserves his true and deepest love not for the species of woman in whose company he finds himself electrified and enkindled, but for that one in whose company he may feel tenderly drowsy.

A man reserves his true and deepest love not for the species of woman in whose company he finds himself electrified and enkindled, but for that one in whose company he may feel tenderly drowsy.

George Jean Nathan
Love demands infinitely less than friendship.

Love demands infinitely less than friendship.

George Jean Nathan
Bad officials are the ones elected by good citizens who do not vote.

Bad officials are the ones elected by good citizens who do not vote.

George Jean Nathan
A man may be said to love most truly that woman in whose company he can feel drowsy in comfort.

A man may be said to love most truly that woman in whose company he can feel drowsy in comfort.

George Jean Nathan
What passes for woman’s intuition is often nothing more than man’s transparency.

What passes for woman’s intuition is often nothing more than man’s transparency.

George Jean Nathan
It is also said of me that I now and then contradict myself. Yes, I improve wonderfully as time goes on.

It is also said of me that I now and then contradict myself. Yes, I improve wonderfully as time goes on.

George Jean Nathan
A ham is simply any actor who has not been successful in repressing his natural instincts.

A ham is simply any actor who has not been successful in repressing his natural instincts.

George Jean Nathan
The path of sound credence is through the thick forest of skepticism.

The path of sound credence is through the thick forest of skepticism.

George Jean Nathan
I drink to make other people interesting.

I drink to make other people interesting.

George Jean Nathan
In the theatre, a hero is one who believes that all women are ladies, a villain one who believes that all ladies are women.

In the theatre, a hero is one who believes that all women are ladies, a villain one who believes that all ladies are women.

George Jean Nathan
Love is the emotion that a woman feels always for a poodle dog and sometimes for a man.

Love is the emotion that a woman feels always for a poodle dog and sometimes for a man.

George Jean Nathan
An optimist is a fellow who believes a housefly is looking for a way to get out.

An optimist is a fellow who believes a housefly is looking for a way to get out.

George Jean Nathan
Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the world are for the common people.

Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the world are for the common people.

George Jean Nathan
The test of a real comedian is whether you laugh at him before he opens his mouth.

The test of a real comedian is whether you laugh at him before he opens his mouth.

George Jean Nathan
No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.

No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.

George Jean Nathan
Great art is as irrational as great music. It is mad with its own loveliness.

Great art is as irrational as great music. It is mad with its own loveliness.

George Jean Nathan
All that is necessary to raise imbecility into what the mob regards as profundity is to lift it off the floor and put it on a platform.

All that is necessary to raise imbecility into what the mob regards as profundity is to lift it off the floor and put it on a platform.

George Jean Nathan
A life spent in constant labor is a life wasted, save a man be such a fool as to regard a fulsome obituary notice as ample reward.

A life spent in constant labor is a life wasted, save a man be such a fool as to regard a fulsome obituary notice as ample reward.

George Jean Nathan
Opening Night: The night before the play is ready to open.

Opening Night: The night before the play is ready to open.

George Jean Nathan
Patriotism is often an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles.

Patriotism is often an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles.

George Jean Nathan
What passes for woman's intuition is often nothing more than man's transparency.

What passes for woman's intuition is often nothing more than man's transparency.

George Jean Nathan
It may be said that artist and censor differ in this wise: that the first is a decent mind in an indecent body and that the second is an indecent mind in a decent body.

It may be said that artist and censor differ in this wise: that the first is a decent mind in an indecent body and that the second is an indecent mind in a decent body.

George Jean Nathan
Art is the sex of the imagination.

Art is the sex of the imagination.

George Jean Nathan
Marriage is based on the theory that when a man discovers a brand of beer exactly to his taste, he should at once throw up his job and go to work inthe brewery.

Marriage is based on the theory that when a man discovers a brand of beer exactly to his taste, he should at once throw up his job and go to work inthe brewery.

George Jean Nathan
Hollywood is ten million dollars worth of intricate and high ingenious machinery functioning elaborately to put skin on baloney.

Hollywood is ten million dollars worth of intricate and high ingenious machinery functioning elaborately to put skin on baloney.

George Jean Nathan
Musicals are to the theater what wines are to a substantial dinner.

Musicals are to the theater what wines are to a substantial dinner.

George Jean Nathan
An actor without a playwright is like a hole without a doughnut.

An actor without a playwright is like a hole without a doughnut.

George Jean Nathan
Women, as they grow older, rely more and more on cosmetics. Men, as they grow older, rely more and more on a sense of humor.

Women, as they grow older, rely more and more on cosmetics. Men, as they grow older, rely more and more on a sense of humor.

George Jean Nathan
A man admires a woman not for what she says, but what she listens to.

A man admires a woman not for what she says, but what she listens to.

George Jean Nathan
The Russian dramatist is one who, walking through a cemetery, does not see the flowers on the graves. The American dramatist . . . Does not see the graves under the flowers.

The Russian dramatist is one who, walking through a cemetery, does not see the flowers on the graves. The American dramatist . . . Does not see the graves under the flowers.

George Jean Nathan
Drama - what literature does at night.

Drama - what literature does at night.

George Jean Nathan
I have yet to find a man worth his salt in any direction who did not think of himself first and foremost.

I have yet to find a man worth his salt in any direction who did not think of himself first and foremost.

George Jean Nathan
Great drama is the souvenir of the adventure of a master among the pieces of his own soul.

Great drama is the souvenir of the adventure of a master among the pieces of his own soul.

George Jean Nathan
Shaw writes plays for the ages, the ages between five and twelve.

Shaw writes plays for the ages, the ages between five and twelve.

George Jean Nathan
Criticism is the art of appraising others at one's own value.

Criticism is the art of appraising others at one's own value.

George Jean Nathan
The most loyal and faithful woman indulges her imagination in a hypothetical liaison whenever she dons a new street frock for the first time.

The most loyal and faithful woman indulges her imagination in a hypothetical liaison whenever she dons a new street frock for the first time.

George Jean Nathan
Like everybody else, when I don't know what else to do, I seem to go in for catching colds.

Like everybody else, when I don't know what else to do, I seem to go in for catching colds.

George Jean Nathan
Beauty makes idiots sad and wise men merry.

Beauty makes idiots sad and wise men merry.

George Jean Nathan
I drink so the others become interesting.

I drink so the others become interesting.

George Jean Nathan
The triumph of sugar over diabetes.

The triumph of sugar over diabetes.

George Jean Nathan
Impersonal criticism?is like an impersonal fist fight or an impersonal marriage, and as successful.

Impersonal criticism?is like an impersonal fist fight or an impersonal marriage, and as successful.

George Jean Nathan
The dramatic critic who is without prejudice is on the plane with the general who does not believe in taking human life.

The dramatic critic who is without prejudice is on the plane with the general who does not believe in taking human life.

George Jean Nathan
The notion that as a man grows older his illusions leave him is not quite true. What is true is that his early illusions are supplanted by new, and to him, equally convincing illusions.

The notion that as a man grows older his illusions leave him is not quite true. What is true is that his early illusions are supplanted by new, and to him, equally convincing illusions.

George Jean Nathan
There is no legimate actor who can resist the powerful lure of the movies. It isn't the money that fetches him. It isn't the great publicity. It is simply this: the movies enable an actor to look at himself.

There is no legimate actor who can resist the powerful lure of the movies. It isn't the money that fetches him. It isn't the great publicity. It is simply this: the movies enable an actor to look at himself.

George Jean Nathan
A ready way to lose your friend is to lend him money. Another equally ready way to lose him is to refuse to lend him money. It is six of one and a half dozen of the other.

A ready way to lose your friend is to lend him money. Another equally ready way to lose him is to refuse to lend him money. It is six of one and a half dozen of the other.

George Jean Nathan
There is something distinguished about even his failures; they sink not trivially, but with a certain air of majesty, like a great ship, its flags flying, full of holes.

There is something distinguished about even his failures; they sink not trivially, but with a certain air of majesty, like a great ship, its flags flying, full of holes.

George Jean Nathan
An abstainer is the sort of man you wouldn't want to drink with even if he did.

An abstainer is the sort of man you wouldn't want to drink with even if he did.

George Jean Nathan
Sex touches the heavens only when it simultaneously touches the gutter and the mud.

Sex touches the heavens only when it simultaneously touches the gutter and the mud.

George Jean Nathan
The bachelors admired freedom is often a yoke, for the freer a man is to himself the greater slave he often is to the whims of others.

The bachelors admired freedom is often a yoke, for the freer a man is to himself the greater slave he often is to the whims of others.

George Jean Nathan
A broken heart is a monument to a love that will never die; fulfillment is a monument to a love that is already on its deathbed.

A broken heart is a monument to a love that will never die; fulfillment is a monument to a love that is already on its deathbed.

George Jean Nathan
The sweetest memory is that which involves something which one should not have done; the bitterest, that which involves something which one should not have done, and which one did not do.

The sweetest memory is that which involves something which one should not have done; the bitterest, that which involves something which one should not have done, and which one did not do.

George Jean Nathan
A poet, any real poet, is simply an alchemist who transmutes his cynicism regarding human beings into an optimism regarding the moon, the stars, the heavens, and the flowers, to say nothing of Spring, love, and dogs.

A poet, any real poet, is simply an alchemist who transmutes his cynicism regarding human beings into an optimism regarding the moon, the stars, the heavens, and the flowers, to say nothing of Spring, love, and dogs.

George Jean Nathan
Men go to the theatre to forget; women, to remember.

Men go to the theatre to forget; women, to remember.

George Jean Nathan
All one has to do to gather a large crowd in New York is to stand on the curb a few minutes and gaze intently at the sky.

All one has to do to gather a large crowd in New York is to stand on the curb a few minutes and gaze intently at the sky.

George Jean Nathan
A man's wife is his compromise with the illusion of his first sweetheart.

A man's wife is his compromise with the illusion of his first sweetheart.

George Jean Nathan
Whenever a man encounters a woman in a mood he doesn't understand, he wants to know if she's tired.

Whenever a man encounters a woman in a mood he doesn't understand, he wants to know if she's tired.

George Jean Nathan
So long as there is one pretty girl left on the stage, the professional undertakers may hold up their burial of the theater.

So long as there is one pretty girl left on the stage, the professional undertakers may hold up their burial of the theater.

George Jean Nathan
It is only the cynicism that is born of success that is penetrating and valid.

It is only the cynicism that is born of success that is penetrating and valid.

George Jean Nathan
I know many married men, I even know a few happily married men, but I don't know one who wouldn't fall down the first open coal hole running after the first pretty girl who gave him a wink.

I know many married men, I even know a few happily married men, but I don't know one who wouldn't fall down the first open coal hole running after the first pretty girl who gave him a wink.

George Jean Nathan
Criticism is the windows and chandeliers of art: it illuminates the enveloping darkness in which art might otherwise rest only vaguely discernible, and perhaps altogether unseen.

Criticism is the windows and chandeliers of art: it illuminates the enveloping darkness in which art might otherwise rest only vaguely discernible, and perhaps altogether unseen.

George Jean Nathan
Politics is the diversion of trivial men who, when they succeed at it, become important in the eyes of more trivial men.

Politics is the diversion of trivial men who, when they succeed at it, become important in the eyes of more trivial men.

George Jean Nathan
To speak of morals in art is to speak of legislature in sex. Art is the sex of the imagination.

To speak of morals in art is to speak of legislature in sex. Art is the sex of the imagination.

George Jean Nathan

One does not go to the theater to see life and nature; one goes to see the particular way in which life and nature happen to look to a cultivated, imaginative and entertaining man who happens, in turn, to be a playwright.

George Jean Nathan

It is the mark of a superior person that, left to themselves they are able endlessly to amuse, interest and entertain themselves out of their personal stock of meditations, ideas, criticisms, memories, philosophy, humor and what not.

George Jean Nathan