Sinclair Lewis was an American novelist, playwright, and social critic who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930. He was known for his sharp wit and insightful observations about American society. Throughout his career, Lewis wrote many thought-provoking quotes that continue to resonate today.
One of Lewis’s most famous quotes is, “It is, I think, utterly bizarre that we believe we must somehow earn our happiness.” This quote challenges the idea that happiness is something that must be earned or deserved. Lewis questioned the societal pressure to constantly strive for achievement and success, reminding us that happiness should be a natural state of being.
In another quote, Lewis commented on the power of conformity and the dangers of following the crowd. He said, “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” This quote serves as a stark warning against blind patriotism and the potential for authoritarianism to take hold in any society.
On the subject of truth, Lewis offered the following insight: “It is impossible to reason someone out of something they did not reason themselves into.” This quote highlights the importance of critical thinking and the limited effectiveness of logical arguments when confronted with deeply held beliefs.
Sinclair Lewis’s quotes continue to resonate because they challenge conventional wisdom and offer a fresh perspective on topics such as happiness, conformity, and truth. His words serve as a reminder to question societal norms and think for ourselves.
Top Quotes by Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis was an American novelist and playwright, best known for his satirical writings that critically portrayed the American middle-class society and its conformity. Here are some of his most memorable quotes:
- “It is, I think, an indisputable fact that Americans are, as Americans, the most self-conscious people in the world, and the most addicted to the belief that the other nations are in a conspiracy to under-value them.”
- “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
- “We are all so afraid, we are all so alone, we all so need from the outside the assurance of our own worthiness to exist.”
- “He who has seen one cathedral ten times has seen something; he who has seen ten cathedrals once has seen but little; and he who has spent half an hour in each of a hundred cathedrals has seen nothing at all.”
- “Intellectuals, full of contempt for facts, and intolerant of notions that transcend strictly material, economic and political considerations, call for a society that will from its breadlines, its slave-labour, its machine operated death, emit, upon command, the melody of Beethoven, the orations of Cicero and Lincoln, the paintings of Botticelli, and the triumphal arches of Septimus Severus.”
- “The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.”
- “If you are a writer you locate yourself behind a wall of silence and no matter what you are doing, driving a car or walking or doing housework you can still be writing, because you have that space.”
- “Being American is a question of faith, a burden of belief in the future.”
- “The trouble with this country is that there are too many people going about saying, ‘The trouble with this country is…'”
These quotes reflect Sinclair Lewis’s sharp wit, insightful observations, and his ability to provoke thought and challenge societal norms.
Inspirational Quotes by Sinclair Lewis
2. “Every compulsion is put upon writers to become safe, polite, obedient, and sterile.” – Sinclair Lewis
3. “Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country.” – Sinclair Lewis
4. “The American of today, in fact, probably enjoys less personal liberty than any other creature of civilised society, and even his political liberty is fast succumbing to the new dogma that certain theories of government are virtuous and lawful, and others abhorrent and felonious.” – Sinclair Lewis
5. “Fundamentally, all writing is about the same thing; it’s about dying, about the brief flicker of time we have here, and the frustration that it creates.” – Sinclair Lewis
Thought-Provoking Quotes by Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis, the American novelist and playwright, was known for his insightful and thought-provoking commentary on American society. His works often tackled themes such as conformity, consumerism, and the dangers of blind patriotism. Here are some of his most memorable quotes:
- “When facism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
- “Every compulsion is put upon writers to become safe, polite, obedient, and sterile. In protest, I declined election to the National Institute of Arts and Letters some years ago, and now I must decline the Pulitzer Prize.”
- “Some people are born mediocre, some people achieve mediocrity, and some people have mediocrity thrust upon them.”
- “How can anybody be so narrow as to resist a truth so broad?”
- “The trouble with this country is that there are too many politicians who believe, with a conviction based on experience, that you can fool all of the people all of the time.”
These quotes serve as a reminder of the enduring relevance of Sinclair Lewis’s insights into American society. They encourage us to question societal norms and strive for a more critical and discerning perspective.
Fictional Quotes by Sinclair Lewis
“He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it–namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain.”
“You can’t expect a man to be a hero, all the time. There are some hours, weeks, months, years, where you just want to be a normal human being.”
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”
“Advertising is a business of words – but advertising agencies are infested with men and women who cannot write. They cannot write advertisements, and they cannot write plans. They are helpless as deaf mutes on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.”
“All the affairs of the Topical Trust Mark Burton took as solemnly as a high school freshman taking a party call from a head-foot ball co-ed.”
Quotes about Society by Sinclair Lewis
1. “She was a woman who understood that words will never suffice to describe the sorrow and struggle of society.”
2. “In a society that values conformity, the truly brave are those who dare to be different.”
3. “Society is like a tangled web, where everyone is connected, yet each individual pulls in their own direction.”
4. “The measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members.”
5. “In a society that values material wealth above all else, true happiness is often elusive.”
Quotes on Life and Ambition by Sinclair Lewis
- “I’m not a genius. I’m just a tremendous bundle of experience.”
- “He who has the ambition to work alone, will be insured against loneliness.”
- “Every man is a king so long as he has someone to look down on.”
- “God, how I hate new places! They’re terrible, aren’t they? And yet, it’s good to be alive, isn’t it?”
- “I just want to make good, lasting things, something that’s fine enough to be loved and so durable as to be worth loving.”
- “Why do you lay stress on being normal? Normalcy means the absence of variation. Variation means that new species are being evolved. There’s something within me as I am, which has never yet been evolved. I don’t want to live in a city that is normal.”
- “It is surprising how much of life can be explained by a few simple rules. They make things so comprehensible.”
- “Faith, to my mind, is the most important thing in life.”
- “Certainly, you may have freedom, as long as there are those who do not want it themselves.”
- “Do you believe in the innate goodness of human beings?” “That’s what I’m trying to discover.”
Powerful Quotes on Politics by Sinclair Lewis
- “Politics, oh, the comfort of feeling safe with a politician, of knowing that special interests and big business will take care of you no matter what a mess they make of the country.”
- “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
- “We’d rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
- “Every compulsion based on monopoly power is the enemy of liberty.”
- “Fear is the dictator’s greatest weapon.”
Meaningful Quotes on Love and Relationships by Sinclair Lewis
“Love is the universal agent of civilization.”
In these words, Sinclair Lewis captures the profound impact love has on the progress of humanity. Love is not only a powerful force that unites individuals, but it also works as a catalyst for social and cultural development.
“Relationships are like delicate flowers; they require constant care and nurturing.”
Lewis reminds us of the fragility of relationships and how they need continuous attention to thrive. Just like flowers, relationships can wither away if not given enough care and effort.
“True love resides in understanding and acceptance, not in changing the other person.”
Here, Lewis emphasizes the importance of acceptance in love. True love does not seek to change or mold the other person into someone they are not. Instead, it embraces their true self and appreciates them for who they are.
“A successful relationship requires equal parts of love, trust, and communication.”
According to Lewis, love alone is not enough for a relationship to flourish. Trust and open communication are essential ingredients in creating a strong and lasting bond.
“Love is not meant to be possessive; it is meant to set each other free.”
Here, Lewis challenges the notion of possessiveness in love. True love allows individuals to grow and pursue their own passions and dreams, rather than confining them.
“The greatest gift one can give in a relationship is their unconditional love and support.”
In this quote, Lewis emphasizes the profound impact of unconditional love and support in a relationship. It is through this unwavering love and support that individuals can find strength and grow together.
“A healthy relationship is built on a foundation of mutual respect and understanding.”
Lewis underscores the importance of respect and understanding in a partnership. When both individuals mutually respect and understand each other’s needs and boundaries, they can foster a healthy and fulfilling relationship.
These meaningful quotes by Sinclair Lewis offer profound insights into the nature of love and relationships. They remind us of the essential elements required for a successful partnership and highlight the transformative power of love in our lives.