Nathaniel Hawthorne
American novelist.
11 quotes in this collection. Read them below, share your favourites, or follow the related links to explore similar voices.
All quotes by Nathaniel Hawthorne
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“Nobody has any conscience about adding to the improbabilities of a marvelous tale.”
Meaning: Stories often exaggerate reality for effect. -
“Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.”
Meaning: Even as time passes, its effects remain in our lives. -
“Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, become terrible masters of men.”
Meaning: Language has powerful influence over human thought and behavior. -
“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp.”
Meaning: Nathaniel Hawthorne suggests that chasing happiness directly can make it harder to attain. Instead, it comes naturally when one is at peace. Letting go of control often leads to fulfillment. -
“Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you.”
Meaning: Happiness cannot be forced; it comes naturally when not pursued obsessively. -
“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.”
Meaning: Imagination and vision can outweigh present limitations. -
“Families are always rising and falling in America.”
Meaning: Social and economic mobility is a constant cycle. -
“The greatest obstacle to being heroic is the doubt whether one may not be going to prove oneself a fool.”
Meaning: Fear of embarrassment prevents people from acting bravely. -
“We sometimes congratulate ourselves at the moment of waking from a troubled dream; it may be so the moment after death.”
Meaning: Life's struggles may be temporary in a broader perspective. -
“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude.”
Meaning: Living a double life eventually leads to inner conflict. -
“Mountains are earth’s undecaying monuments.”
Meaning: Nature represents permanence and strength.