O. Henry > Quotes

“Each of us, when our day's work is done, must seek our ideal, whether it be love or pinochle or lobster à la Newburg, or the sweet silence of the musty bookshelves.”
― O. Henry

“No friendship is an accident. ”
― O. Henry, Heart of the West

“Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating.”
― O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi

“All of us have to be prevaricators, hypocrites, and liars every day of our lives; otherwise the social structure would fall into pieces the first day. We must act in one another's presence just as we must wear clothes. It is for the best”
― O. Henry

“We can't buy one minute of time with cash; if we could, rich people would live longer.”
― O. Henry, Selected Stories

“I'll give you the whole secret to short story writing. Here it is. Rule 1: Write stories that please yourself. There is no Rule 2.”
― O. Henry

“The true adventurer goes forth aimless and uncalculating to meet and greet unknown fate. ”
― O. Henry

“I wanted to paint a picture some day that people would stand before and forget that it was made of paint. I wanted it to creep into them like a bar of music and mushroom there like a soft bullet.”
― O. Henry, The Complete Works of O. Henry

“She had
become so thoroughly annealed into his life that she was like the
air he breathed--necessary but scarcely noticed.”
― O. Henry, The Complete Life of John Hopkins

“The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”
― O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi

“Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence”
― O. Henry, Selected Stories

“Write what you like; there is no other rule.”
― O. Henry

“It couldn't have happened anywhere but in little old New York.”
― O. Henry

“He seemed to be made of sunshine and blood-red tissue and clear weather.”
― O. Henry, Selected Stories

“The most notable thing about Time is that it is so purely relative. A large amount of reminiscence is, by common consent, conceded to the drowning man; and it is not past belief that one may review an entire courtship while removing one's gloves.”
― O. Henry

“Pull up the shades so I can see New York. I don't want to go home in the dark.”
― O. Henry

“Life is full of sniffles sobs and smiles. With sniffles predominating.”
― O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi

“There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.”
― O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi

“There are stories in everything. I've got some of my best yarns from park benches, lampposts, and newspaper stands.”
― O. Henry

“Greenwich Village... the village of low rents and high arts.”
― O. Henry, The Last Leaf

“It'll be a great place if they ever finish it.”
― O. Henry

“But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”
― O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi

“If a person has lived through war, poverty and love, he has lived a full life”
― O. Henry

“It was beautiful and simple, as truly great swindles are.”
― O. Henry

“He studied cities as women study their reflections.”
― O. Henry, The Best Short Stories of O. Henry

“[A]ll of life, as we know it, moves in little, unavailing circles. More justly than to anything else, it can be likened to the game of baseball. Crack! we hit the ball, and away we go. If we earn a run (in life we call it success) we get back to the home plate and sit upon a bench. If we are thrown out, we walk back to the home plate -- and sit upon a bench.”
― O. Henry

“Turn up the lights —I don't want to go home in the dark.”
― O. Henry

“Of habit, the power that keeps the earth from flying to pieces; though there is some silly theory of gravitation.”
― O Henry

“Will you buy my hair?”
― O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi

“Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. Something fine and rare and sterling—something”
― O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi