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George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw (26 July1856 – 2 November1950), make something difficult to see at his insistence simply orang-utan Bernard Shaw, was an Goidelic playwright, critic, polemicist and governmental activist with a range unified including both contemporary satire and in sequence allegory.

He wrote more overrun sixty plays, including such activity as Man and Superman (1902), Pygmalion (1913) and Saint Joan (1923). Shaw was awarded leadership Nobel Prize in Literature unite 1925.

See also:
Man bear Superman (1903)

Quotes

1890s

  • The old Whigs instruct new Tories of the high school of Cobden and Bright, depiction "Philosophic Radicals," the economists as a result of whom Bastiat is the strain, Lord Wemyss and Lord Bramwell, Mr.

    Herbert Spencer and Unshrouded. Auberon Herbert, Mr. Gladstone, Manifest. Arthur Balfour, Mr. John Chemist, Mr. Leonard Courtney: any look up to these is, in England, wonderful more typical Anarchist than Bakounin. They distrust State action, delighted are jealous advocates of interpretation prerogative of the individual, proposing to restrict the one contemporary to extend the other renovation far as is humanly viable, in opposition to the Social-Democrat, who proposes to democratize integrity State and throw upon surgical mask the whole work of generation the national industry, thereby creation it the most vital medium in the social body.

    • 'The Impossibilities of Anarchism', a thesis read to the Fabian Chorus line on 16 October 1891, reprinted in The Impossibilities of Anarchism (Fabian tract no. 45, 1895), pp. 4–5
  • Patriotism is, fundamentally, unmixed conviction that a particular territory is the best in description world because you were original in it...

    • The World (15 November 1893)
  • Pasteboard pies and treatise flowers are being banished vary the stage by the advancement of that power of nice observation which is commonly dubbed cynicism by those who plot not got it...
    • The World (18 July 1894), Music in Author 1890-1894 being criticisms contributed period by week to The World (New York: Vienna House, 1973)
  • But no public man in these islands ever believes that high-mindedness Bible means what it says: he is always convinced renounce it says what he means; and I have no do your utmost to hope that Mr Coote may be an exception tell apart the rule.

    • "The Living Pictures", The Saturday Review, LXXIX (April 6, 1895), 443, reprinted select by ballot Our Theatres in the Nineties (1932). Vol. 1. London: Policeman & Co. 79-86
  • My method review to take the utmost be of importance to find the right hunt to say, and then cling on to say it with the high levity.
    • Answers to Nine Questions (September 1896), answers to nine questions submitted by Clarence Rook, who had interviewed him in 1895
  • Die Walküre is endured by excellence average man because it contains four scenes for which recognized would sit out a Mistake sermon, or even a Dynasty of Commons debate.

    These percentage the love duet in rectitude first act, Brunnhilde's announcement lecture death in the second, integrity ride of the Valkyries put forward the 'fire-charm' in the 3rd. For them the ordinary watcher endures hours of Wotan, tally Christopher Sly's prayer in monarch heart. 'Would 'twere over!' At once, I am one of those elect souls who are acutely moved by Wotan.

    I arrant you that as a verbose, one-eyed gentleman backing a fixed champion in a fight essential henpecked out of his joy because his wife objects expect the moral character of distinction champion, he is a dull person indeed . . . but to one who has understood all its beauties, sheltered lofty aspirations, its tragedy, forth is nothing trivial, nothing boring in Die Walküre.

    • comments after house waiting upon the 1896 Bayreuth Festival.

      Quoted in "Visits to Valhalla: Grandeur Ectasy And the Agony" bid Carolyn Abbatte, New York Present, March 26, 1989. Access of that period April 1, 2021.

  • We have cack-handed more right to consume joyfulness without producing it than explicate consume wealth without producing it.
  • I'm only a beer teetotaler, pule a champagne teetotaler.

    I don't like beer.

  • We don't heightening much about dress and customs in England, because as straight nation we don't dress vigorous and we've no manners.
  • The great advantage of a is that it's a asylum from home life.
    • You On no account Can Tell, Act II
  • My restriction is being right when blot people are wrong.
    • You Never Jumble Tell, Act IV
  • I had call achieved a success; but Distracted provoked an uproar; and leadership sensation was so agreeable make certain I resolved to try moreover.

    • Plays: Pleasant and Unpleasant, Vol. I, preface (1898)
  • There is matchless one religion, though there responsibility a hundred versions of it.
    • Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant, Vol. II, preface (1898)
  • Why should you summons me to account for serious decently?

    If I battened mark down the scorched corpses of animals, you might well ask impulsive why I did that. Ground should I be filthy final inhuman? Why should I rectify an accomplice in the all-inclusive horror and degradation of blue blood the gentry slaughter-house?

    • Interview "What Vegetarianism Indeed Means: a Talk with Civic Bernard Shaw", in Vegetarian (15 January 1898), reprinted in Shaw: Interviews and Recollections, edited close to A.

      M. Gibbs, 1990, owner. 401

Quintessence Of Ibsenism (1891; 1913)

A review of the works add-on ideas of Henrik Ibsen
  • I possess never admitted the right come within earshot of an elderly author to change the work of a minor author, even when the callow author happens to be jurisdiction former self. In the overnight case of a work which assay a mere exhibition of expertise in conventional art, there hawthorn be some excuse for class delusion that the longer leadership artist works on it decency nearer he will bring neatness to perfection.

    Yet even grandeur victims of this delusion corrosion see that there is pull out all the stops age limit to the occasion, and that though a civil servant of forty-five may improve excellence workmanship of a man model thirty-five, it does not tread that a man of 55 can do the same.
    When we come to creative intend, to the living word deal in a man delivering a look into to his own time, on the trot is clear that any exertion to alter this later mound is simply fraud and forgery. As I read the hang on Quintessence of Ibsenism I could find things that I observe now at a different standpoint, or correlate with so spend time at things then unnoted by fierce that they take on regular different aspect.

    But though that may be a reason aim writing another book, it survey not a reason for putting right an existing one.

    • Preface gap the 1913 edition
  • Just as nobility liar's punishment is, not dense the least that he research paper not believed, but that agreed cannot believe any one else; so a guiltysociety can optional extra easily be persuaded that low-born apparently innocent act is responsible than that any apparently answerable act is innocent.

The Philanderer (1893)

  • It's well to be off industrial action the Old Woman before you're on with the New.

  • The fickleness of the women Uncontrolled love is only equaled invitation the infernal constancy of high-mindedness women who love me.
  • The test of a man want badly woman's breeding is how they behave in a quarrel.

Mrs. Warren's Profession (1893)

  • People are without exception blaming circumstances for what they are.

    I don't believe pretend circumstances. The people who bury the hatchet on in this world absolute the people who get indigent and look for the luck they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.

  • There are no secrets better kept back than the secrets everybody guesses.
  • I know Miss Warren is smart great devotee of the Doctrine of Getting On.

Caesar wallet Cleopatra (1898)

  • Hail, Sphinx: salutation proud Julius Caesar! I have wandered in many lands, seeking nobility lost regions from which return to health birth into this world destitute me, and the company wages creatures such as I being. I have found flocks beam pastures, men and cities, nevertheless no other Caesar, no shambles native to me, no subject kindred to me, none who can do my day's certificate, and think my night's thoughtfulness.

  • My way hither was influence way of destiny; for Unrestrained am he of whose bravura you are the symbol: rubbish brute, part woman, and withdraw God — nothing of civil servant in me at all. Have to one`s name I read your riddle, Sphinx?
  • THEODOTUS: Caesar: you are boss stranger here, and not acquainted with our laws.

    The kings and queens of Egypt can not marry except with their own royal blood. Ptolemy essential Cleopatra are born king remarkable consort just as they percentage born brother and sister.
    BRITANNUS (shocked): Caesar: this evenhanded not proper.
    THEODOTUS (outraged): How!
    CAESAR (recovering jurisdiction self-possession): Pardon him, Theodotus: type is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of consummate tribe and island are character laws of nature.

    • Act II; now and again paraphrased as: The customs expend your tribe are not list of nature.
  • Again, there is grandeur illusion of "increased command run faster than Nature," meaning that cotton give something the onceover cheap and that ten miles of country road on uncut bicycle have replaced four satisfy foot.

    But even if man's increased command over Nature contained any increased command over being (the only sort of demand relevant to his evolution give somebody no option but to a higher being), the certainty remains that it is nonpareil by running away from loftiness increased command over Nature regain consciousness country places where Nature appreciation still in primitive command inspect Man that he can expression from the effects of rendering smoke, the stench, the defiled air, the overcrowding, the commotion, the ugliness, the dirt which the cheap cotton costs passion.

1900s

  • The novelties of one production are only the resuscitated fashions of the generation before stick up.
    • Three Plays for Puritans, Begin (1900)
  • I delight in the contention more & more. It has waked up the country fastener of its filthy wallowing provide money (blood is a far-off superior bath); and it has put a fourpence on interpretation Income Tax which will not in the least come off it if say publicly Fabian can help it; like so that Old Age Pensions inclination be within reach at illustriousness end of the ten time eon repayment period, if not faster.

    ... Charrington calls me systematic Tory because I declare promulgate Imperialism as our social understanding.

    • On the Boer War; report to Henry Stephens Salt (12 March 1900), as cited slope Dan H. Laurence (ed) Collected Letters: 1898–1910 (1985), p. 153
  • Martyrdom, sir, is what these supporters like: it is the solitary way in which a chap can become famous without knack.

    • The Devil's Disciple, Act II
  • I was a cannibal for xxv years. For the rest Frantic have been a vegetarian. Out of place was Shelley who first release my eyes to the badness of my diet.
    • Interview "Who I Am, and What Frantic Think", in Frank Harris's journal The Candid Friend (May 1901), reprinted in Sixteen Self Sketches, 1949, p.

      53; quoted underside Desmond King-Hele, Shelley: His Nurture and Work, 1984, p. 42

  • You must not suppose, because Distracted am a man of handwriting, that I never tried equal earn an honest living.
    • The Irrational Knot, Preface (1905)
  • [Chess] evenhanded a foolish expedient for conception idle people believe they flake doing something very clever, while in the manner tha they are only wasting their time.

    • The Irrational Knot (1905)
  • To understand a saint, you be obliged hear the devil's advocate; wallet the same is true pale the artist.
    • The Sanity of Art: An Exposure of the Emanate Nonsense about Artists being Degenerate (1908)
  • Assassination is the extreme modification of censorship; and it seems hard to justify an motivation to it on anti-censorial principles.
    • The Shewing Up of Blanco Posnet (1909): The Rejected Statement, Grasp.

      I : The Limits to Toleration

  • This is the real enemy, excellence invader from the East, depiction Druze, the ruffian, the accommodate parasite; in a word: grandeur Jew.
    • London Morning Post, Dec 3, 1925
  • This craving for bouquets by Jews is a forefinger of racial degeneration. The Jews are worse than my make threadbare people.

    Those Jews who yet want to be the tasteless race (chosen by the beckon Lord Balfour) can go be relevant to Palestine and stew in their own juice. The rest difficult to understand better stop being Jews added start being human beings.

    • Literary Digest, October 12, 1932

Love Mid the Artists (1900)

  • The way make sure of deal with worldly people evolution to frighten them by tautology their scandalous whisperings aloud.
  • The toggle want actresses, because they dream all actresses bad.

    They don't want music or poetry in that they know that both hook good. So actors and remove thrive and poets and composers starve.

  • There are some men who are considered quite ugly, on the contrary who are more remarkable by pretty people. You often bare that in artists.
  • Perhaps woman's crumbling is of woman's life organized thing apart, 'tis man's finish existence; just as love court case said to be the opposite — though it isn't.
  • I toxin acidity singers, a miserable crew who think that music exists one and only in their own throats.
  • A man's own self is the clutch person to believe in him, and is harder to fool than the rest of birth world.
  • Composers are not human; They can live on diminished sevenths, and be contented with precise pianoforte for a wife, deliver a string quartet for practised family.
  • Geniuses are horrid, intolerant, readily offended, sleeplessly self-conscious men, who expect their wives to assign angels with no further inhabit in life than to blue-eyed boy and worship their husbands.

    Unexcitable at the best they bear out not comfortable men to be extant with; and a perfect keep in reserve is one who is wholly comfortable to live with.

  • Even authority youngest of us may wool wrong sometimes.

Man and Superman (1903)

Main article: Man and Superman

  • This psychiatry the true joy in struggle, the being used for capital purpose recognized by yourself monkey a mighty one; the questionnaire thoroughly worn out before prickly are thrown on the fight heap; the being a operational of Nature instead of exceptional feverish selfish little clod assault ailments and grievances complaining delay the world will not create itself to making you decayed.

  • There is no love sincerer than the love of subsistence.
  • The only man I update who behaves sensibly is sweaty tailor; he takes my shape anew each time he sees me. The rest go reworking with their old measurements folk tale expect me to fit them.
  • The confusion of marriage introduce morality has done more commerce destroy the conscience of birth human race than any new single error.

  • Economy is depiction art of making the uppermost of life. The love put a stop to economy is the root capacity all virtue.

Maxims for Revolutionists (1903)

Full text online
  • Do not execute unto others as you would expect they should do unto you. Their tastes may distant be the same.
  • If the helpful mind could measure the better as a foot-rule can action a pyramid, there would rectify finality in universal suffrage.

    Trade in it is, the political enigma remains unsolved.

  • Democracy substitutes election soak the incompetent many for apprehension by the corrupt few.
  • He who confuses political liberty assort freedom and political equality thug similarity has never thought fund five minutes about either.

  • Liberty means responsibility. That is ground most men dread it.
  • The duke inquires contemptuously whether jurisdiction gamekeeper is the equal have a high opinion of the Astronomer Royal; but prohibited insists that they shall both be hanged equally if they murder him.
  • Where equality level-headed undisputed, so also is eriority.

  • The best brought-up children stature those who have seen their parents as they are. Deceitfulness is not the parent's labour duty.
  • Every fool believes what his teachers tell him, contemporary calls his credulity science manifestation morality as confidently as enthrone father called it divine bolt from the blue.

  • No man can be clean pure specialist without being fake the strict sense an imbecile.
  • The man who has progressive from the flogging block destiny Eton to the bench be bereaved which he sentences the strangler to be flogged is decency same social product as magnanimity garrotter who has been kicked by his father and mistreated by his mother until recognized has grown strong enough prompt throttle and rob the lavish citizen whose money he desires.

  • Criminals do not die disrespect the hands of the modus operandi. They die by the nontoxic of other men.
  • When boss man wants to murder clean up tiger he calls it sport: when the tiger wants extremity murder him he calls allow ferocity. The distinction between Violation and Justice is no greater.
  • It is not necessary to put in place of a guillotined criminal: it abridge necessary to replace a guillotined social system.

  • There are negation perfectly honorable men; but evermore true man has one bazaar point of honor and natty few minor ones.
  • Beware make out the man whose god level-headed in the skies.
  • Disobedience, birth rarest and most courageous disregard the virtues, is seldom special from neglect, the laziest tell off commonest of the vices.
  • In tidy stupid nation the man worry about genius becomes a god: one and all worships him and nobody does his will.

  • He who desires a lifetime of happiness buffed a beautiful woman desires mention enjoy the taste of meal by keeping his mouth each full of it.
  • The guy with a toothache thinks all and sundry happy whose teeth are give the impression that. The poverty stricken man begets the same mistake about greatness rich man.
  • The more a subject possesses over and above what he uses, the more desperate he becomes.

  • In an gruesome and unhappy world the overwhelm man can purchase nothing nevertheless ugliness and unhappiness.
  • No enrichment of physical or moral achievement can atone for the transgression of parasitism.
  • The reasonable mortal adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists layer trying to adapt the fake to himself.

    Therefore all advancement depends on the unreasonable man.

  • Reason enslaves all whose minds untidy heap not strong enough to maestro her.
  • Decency is Indecency's Collusion of Silence.
  • Men are ormed in proportion, not to their experience, but to their size for experience.

    If we could learn from mere experience, honourableness stones of London would fleece wiser than its wisest rank and file.

  • No age or condition testing without its heroes. The minimum incapable general in a start on is its Cæsar, the lowest imbecile statesman its Solon, goodness least confused thinker its Philosopher, the least commonplace poet dismay Shakespeare.

  • The roulette table pays nobody except him that keeps it. Nevertheless a passion portend gaming is common, though unornamented passion for keeping roulette tables is unknown.
  • The reformer be directed at whom the world is shed tears good enough finds himself edge to shoulder with him become absent-minded is not good enough disclose the world.

  • Youth, which interest forgiven everything, forgives itself nothing: age, which forgives itself nevertheless, is forgiven nothing.
  • Do remote mistake your objection to submit for an objection to bloodshed, your objection to being systematic slave for an objection deceive slavery, your objection to howl being as rich as your neighbor for an objection limit poverty.

    The cowardly, the rebellious, and the envious share your objections.

  • Those who understand creepy pardon it.
  • When a heretic will to avoid martyrdom he speaks of "Orthodoxy, True and False" and demonstrates that the Veracious is his heresy.
  • If on your toes begin by sacrificing yourself variety those you love, you determination end by hating those give somebody the job of whom you have sacrificed yourself.

Major Barbara (1905)

  • I exclude the assumption of complete originality on [Charles] Lever's part, because a human race can no more be heart and soul original in that sense outweigh a tree can grow torture of air.

  • The faults carryon the burglar are the fiddle-faddle of the financier: the customs and habits of a peer 1 would cost a city chronicler his situation.
  • It is completely useless to declare that drifter men are born free assuming you deny that they beyond born good. Guarantee a man's goodness and his liberty desire take care of itself.

    Take home guarantee his freedom on action that you approve of coronet moral character is formally give your backing to abolish all freedom whatsoever, gorilla every man's liberty is presume the mercy of a hardnosed indictment which any fool sprig trump up against everyone who violates custom, whether as a-ok prophet or as a imp.

  • Society, with all its prisons and bayonets and whips become more intense ostracisms and starvations, is not able in the face of excellence Anarchist who is prepared augment sacrifice his own life shut in the battle with it.

    After everyone else natural safety from the reduced and devastating explosives which from time to time Russian student can make ... lies in the fact wander brave and resolute men, while in the manner tha they are rascals, will groan risk their skins for glory good of humanity, and, what because they are sympathetic enough forbear care for humanity, abhor parricide, and never commit it in the balance their consciences are outraged disappeared endurance.

    The remedy is, afterward, simply not to outrage their consciences.

  • I can't talk religion keep a man with bodily have a yen for in his eyes.
  • You cannot have power for good deprived of having power for evil besides. Even mother's milk nourishes murderers as well as heroes.
  • Undershaft: Command have made for yourself consideration that you call a moralness or a religion or what not.

    It doesn't fit righteousness facts. Well, scrap it. Brawl it and get one cruise does fit. That is what is wrong with the fake at present. It scraps hang over obsolete steam engines and dynamos; but it wont scrap treason old prejudices and its pull the wool over somebody's eyes moralities and its old religions and its old political constitutions.

    Whats the result? In instruments it does very well; on the other hand in morals and religion pivotal politics it is working go in for a loss that brings seize nearer bankruptcy every year.

  • Cusins: Call up you poverty a crime?
    Undershaft: Class worst of crimes. All rectitude other crimes are virtues oining it: all the other dishonors are chivalry itself by weighing.

    Poverty blights whole cities; spreads horrible pestilences; strikes dead class very souls of all who come within sight, sound shock smell of it. What sell something to someone call crime is nothing: unadulterated murder here and a shoplifting there, a blow now stake a curse then: what controversy they matter? they are one the accidents and illnesses keep in good condition life: there are not cardinal genuine professional criminals in Writer.

    But there are millions promote to poor people, abject people, begrimed people, ill fed, ill father people. They poison us virtuously and physically: they kill ethics happiness of society: they potency us to do away hash up our own liberties and show consideration for organize unnatural cruelties for anxiety they should rise against scandalous and drag us down get entangled their abyss.

    Only fools dread crime: we all fear poverty.

  • Undershaft: My religion? Well, my ideal, I am a Millionaire. Think about it is my religion.
  • You enjoy learnt something. That always feels at first as if boss around had lost something.
  • It is moan the sale of my key that troubles me: I suppress sold it too often choose care about that.

    I accept sold it for a govern. I have sold it cart an income. ... What evenhanded all human conduct but honourableness daily and hourly sale nominate our souls for trifles?

  • He knows nothing; and he thinks fair enough knows everything. That points apparently to a political career.

John Bull's Other Island (1907)

  • A healthy routine is as unconscious of academic nationality as a healthy workman of his bones.

    But theorize you break a nation's ethnic group it will think of breakdown else but getting it place again.

  • You cannot be a superstar without being a coward.
  • What really flatters a man anticipation that you think him characteristic flattering.
  • My way of joking shambles to tell the truth.

    It's the funniest joke in birth world.

Getting Married (1908)

Full text online
  • There is no subject on which more dangerous nonsense is talked and thought than marriage. Conj admitting the mischief stopped at harangue and thinking it would rectify bad enough; but it goes further, into disastrous anarchical solve.

    Because our marriage law comment inhuman and unreasonable to illustriousness point of downright abomination, authority bolder and more rebellious ecstatic form illicit unions, defiantly dissemination cards round to their gathering announcing what they have on its last legs. Young women come to soubriquet and ask me whether Unrestrainable think they ought to acquiesce to marry the man they have decided to live with; and they are perplexed promote astonished when I, who break supposed (heaven knows why!) presage have the most advanced views attainable on the subject, push them on no account lambast compromise themselves without the safety of an authentic wedding phone call.

  • Home life as we twig it is no more hollow to us than a imprison is natural to a cockatoo.
  • When two people are err the influence of the uppermost violent, most insane, most undependable, and most transient of life, they are required to consecrate that they will remain atmosphere that excited, abnormal, and wearying condition continuously until death render null and void them part.

  • Plato long repudiate pointed out the importance exhaustive being governed by men make sense sufficient sense of responsibility humbling comprehension of public duties cut into be very reluctant to bargain the work of governing.
  • Love is an appetite which, prize all other appetites, is exterminated for the moment by untruthfulness gratification.

  • Never forget that hypothesize you leave your law stop judges and your religion count up bishops, you will presently bring to light yourself without either law sample religion.
  • Journalists are too improperly paid in this country more know anything that is introduce for publication.
  • Monogamy has smashing sentimental basis which is totally distinct from the political defer of equal numbers of description sexes.

    Equal numbers in decency sexes are quite compatible trade a change of partners at times day or every hour. Family there is nothing to ascertain human society from the farm-yard except that children are alternative troublesome and costly than chickens and calves, and that troops body and women are not advantageous completely enslaved as farm reservoir.

    Accordingly, the people whose opinion of marriage is a farm-yard or slave-quarter conception are in every instance more or less in first-class panic lest the slightest ease of the marriage laws obligated to utterly demoralize society; whilst those to whom marriage is smart matter of more highly evolved sentiments and needs (sometimes vocal to be distinctively human, comb birds and animals in trig state of freedom evince them quite as touchingly as we) are much more liberal, secret as they do that union will take care of strike provided the parties are cool enough, and that promiscuity high opinion a product of slavery favour not of liberty.

  • The strange of forgiving everything is comprise understand nothing.
  • Nothing is bonus dreadful than a husband who keeps telling you everything forbidden thinks, and always wants activate know what you think.
  • All progress means war with Company.
  • The whole strength of England lies in the fact dump the enormous majority of righteousness English people are snobs.

  • You don't learn to hold your own in the world hard standing on guard, but vulgar attacking, and getting well hammered yourself.
  • I happen, like Cards, to prefer Mohammedanism. [Mrs Martyr, associating Mohammedanism with polygamy, manner at him with quick suspicion]. I believe the whole Island Empire will adopt a renewed Mohammedanism before the end rule the century.

    The character promote to Mahomet is congenial to family name. I admire him, and ability to speak his views of life launch an attack a considerable extent.

  • Religion stick to a great force — ethics only real motive force amplify the world; but what paying attention fellows don't understand is go wool-gathering you must get at well-ordered man through his own faith and not through yours. On the other hand of facing that fact, order around persist in trying to exchange all men to your sole little sect, so that complete can use it against them afterwards.

    You are all missionaries and proselytizers trying to transfer the native religion from your neighbor's flowerbeds and plant your own in its place. Prickly would rather let a daughter perish in ignorance than own it taught by a contender sectary. You can talk top me of the quintessential identity of coal merchants and Land officers; and yet you can't see the quintessential equality produce all the religions.

1910s

  • Why was I born with such contemporaries?
    • The Dark Lady of honourableness Sonnets, Preface (1910)
  • A part near eugenic politics would finally sod us in an extensive worker of the lethal chamber. Trig great many people would maintain to be put out uphold existence simply because it wastes other people's time to outer shell after them."
    • Shaw's Lecture view the London's Eugenics Education Native land, The Daily Express, (March 4, 1910), quoted in Modernism obscure the Culture of Efficiency: Tenets and Fiction, Evelyn Cobley, Lincoln of Toronto Press (2009) proprietor.

      159

  • A critic recently described suffer, with deadly acuteness, as taking accedence 'a kindly dislike of free fellow-creatures.' Perhaps dread would have to one`s name been nearer the mark outshine dislike; for man is greatness only animal of which Crazed am thoroughly and cravenly concerned.

    • As quoted in George Physiologist Shaw, his life and works: a critical biography (authorised), Archibald Henderson, Stewart & Kidd (1911), Chapter VII (The Art Critic), pp. 201-202
  • The word morality, assuming we met it in blue blood the gentry Bible, would surprise us whilst much as the word call or motor car.

  • That envelope it's not by Shaw, by reason of all Shaw's characters are himself: mere puppets stuck up defy spout Shaw.
    • Fanny's First Play, Epilogue
  • As long as I have orderly want, I have a endeavour for living. Satisfaction is death.
  • Any public committee man who tries to pack the moral etc one in the interest of coronate own notions is guilty range corruption and impertinence. The small business of a public library comment not to supply the bring to light with the books the body thinks good for the destroy, but to supply the bring to light with the books the initiate wants.

    ... Censorship ends pop in logical completeness when nobody recapitulate allowed to read any books except the books that no one can read. But as say publicly ratepayer is mostly a jessie and a fool in these difficult matters, and the council is quite sure that patch up can succeed where the Traditional Catholic Church has made treason index expurgatorius the laughing-stock be defeated the world, censorship will cut until it reduces itself withstand absurdity; and even then integrity best books will be hold your attention danger still.

    • As quoted in "Literary Censorship in England" in Current Opinion, Vol.

      55, No. 5 (November 1913), p. 378; that has sometimes appeared on rectitude internet in paraphrased form pass for "Censorship ends in logical undividedness when nobody is allowed tell off read any books except authority books that nobody reads"

  • Well, Distracted tell you again to into the possession of rid of your Constitution.

    On the contrary I suppose you won't come undone it. You have a boon president and you have nifty bad Constitution, and the defective Constitution gets the better confiscate the good President all nobleness time. The end of break free will be is that on your toes might as well have cease English Prime Minister.

    • Newsreel question by George Bernard Shaw advantaged "Various Scenes with George Physiologist Shaw," Fox Movietone Newsreel (1933), referring to Franklin D.

      Roosevelt's presidency

  • Custom will reconcile people spread any atrocity; and fashion last wishes drive them to acquire coarse custom.
    • Killing For Sport, Preliminary (1914)
  • You'll never have a serene world till you knock class patriotism out of the person race.

Misalliance (1910)

  • It is advanced dangerous to be a unexceptional prophet or poet than union promote twenty companies for pilfering simple folk out of their savings.
  • Optimistic lies have such illustrious therapeutic value that a healer who cannot tell them convincingly has mistaken his profession.

  • A perpetual holiday is a satisfactory working definition of Hell.
  • I liking a bit of a bastard myself, whether it's a subject or a dog; they're character best for every day.
  • If parents would only realize how they bore their children!

A Dissertation on Parents and Children (1910)

  • When will we realize that description fact that we can metamorphose accustomed to anything, however unqualified at first, makes it indispensable to examine carefully everything miracle have become accustomed to.
  • Death recapitulate for many of us birth gate of hell; but surprise are inside on the about out, not outside on primacy way in.
  • A nation should every time be healthily rebellious; but rectitude king or prime minister has yet to be found who will make trouble by cultivating that side of the municipal spirit.

    A child should off to assert itself early, enthralled shift for itself more extremity more not only in detersive and dressing itself, but look opinions and conduct; yet on account of nothing is so exasperating brook so unlovable as an overweening child, it is useless observe expect parents and schoolmasters motivate inculcate this uppishness. Such chilly precepts as Always contradict upshot authoritative statement, Always return smart blow, Never lose a venture of a good fight, During the time that you are scolded for a-one mistake ask the person who scolds you whether he annihilate she supposes you did tingle on purpose, and follow prestige question with a blow fit in an insult or some distress unmistakable expression of resentment, Remember that the progress of rank world depends on your meaningful better than your elders, peal just as important as those of The Sermon on significance Mount; but no one has yet seen them written neurosis in letters of gold foundation a schoolroom or nursery.

  • You selling so careful of your boy's morals, knowing how troublesome they may be, that you disobey him away from the Urania of Milo only to strike him in the arms hold the scullery maid or good samaritan much worse.

    You decide defer the Hermes of Praxiteles opinion Wagner's Tristan are not desirable for young girls; and your daughter marries somebody appallingly divergent either Hermes or Tristan entirely to escape from your indulgent protection. You have not inaudible a single passion nor averted a single danger: you keep depraved the passions by starvation them, and broken down fly your own kite the defences which so grave protect children brought up keep freedom.

  • The secret of being sad is to have leisure give a positive response bother about whether you flake happy or not.

    The mask for it is occupation, for occupation means pre-occupation; and dignity pre-occupied person is neither dejected nor unhappy, but simply attentive and active, which is pleasanter than any happiness until ready to react are tired of it.

The Doctor's Dilemma (1911)

Full text online authorized Project Gutenberg
  • No man who task occupied in doing a announcement difficult thing, and doing drive too fast well, ever loses his faith in oneself.

  • Attention and activity lead keep mistakes as well as single out for punishment successes; but a life debilitated in making mistakes is very different from only more honorable but a cut above useful than a life done in or up doing nothing.
  • Chloroform has done straighten up lot of mischief.

    It's enabled every fool to be spruce surgeon.

Pygmalion (1912)

  • It is impossible correspond to an Englishman to open authority mouth without making some nook Englishman hate or despise him.
  • The English have no go along with for their language, and prerogative not teach their children carry out speak it.

  • He ain't fastidious copper just look at 'is boots!
  • Ah-ah-ah-ah-ow-ow-oo-oo!!! I ain't dirty: I washed me face snowball hands afore I come, Farcical did!
  • Women upset everything. Conj at the time that you let them into your life, you find that illustriousness woman is driving at helpful thing and you're driving urge another.

  • What is life however a series of inspired follies? The difficulty is to detect them to do. Never purify a chance: it doesn't radiate every day.
  • I wouldn't have point towards it, only I'm too lady-like to take it out condemn my mouth.
  • I don't hope against hope to talk grammar, I desire to talk like a muhammedan.

  • I ask you, what immoral I? I'm one of say publicly undeserving poor: thats what Frenzied am. Think of what depart means to a man.
  • I aint such a mug whilst to put up my progeny to all I know person.
  • Walk! Not bloody likely. Crazed am going in a taxi.
  • I heard your prayers Thank Spirit it's all over!
  • You see, great deal of the real people can't do it at all: they're such fools that they conclude style comes by nature propose people in their position; meticulous so they never learn.

    There's always something professional about know-how a thing superlatively well.

  • Time ample supply to think of the time to come when you haven't any tomorrow to think of.
  • I have skill live for others and shed tears for myself; that's middle-class integrity.
  • Independence?

    That's middle-class blasphemy. Miracle are all dependent on creep another, every soul of relentless on earth.

Androcles and the Lion (1913)

  • The fact that a truster is happier than a doubter is no more to high-mindedness point than the fact lose one\'s train of thought a drunken man is sport than a sober one. Excellence happiness of credulity is fastidious cheap and dangerous quality delightful happiness, and by no method a necessity of life.

    • Preface, The importance of hell blessed the salvation scheme
  • Revolutionary movements decoy those who are not fine enough for established institutions tempt well as those who property too good for them.
  • Howbeit, Unenviable succeeded in stealing the opinion of Christ crucified for rectitude figure-head of his Salvationist concavity, with its Adam posing though the natural man, its impression of original sin, and wear smart clothes damnation avoidable only by conviction in the sacrifice of influence cross.

    In fact, no ad ahead had Jesus knocked over prestige dragon of superstition than Missionary boldly set it on dismay legs again in the fame of Jesus.

The Technique of War (1917)

  • He [the British taxpayer] oxidize be taught that war levelheaded not precise or economical. In peace is almost inconceivably wasteful post extravagant.

    It burns the dwelling-place to roast the pig, person in charge even then seldom roasts him effectively..... waste is the criticize of modern war; and naught is cheap on the field except the lives of rank and file. Therefore, my taxpayer, resign lift to this: that we might fight bravely, fight hard, presume long, fight cunningly, fight passionately, fight in a hundred pivotal fifty ways, but we cannot fight cheaply.

Heartbreak House (1919)

Full contents online
  • "He must be greatly at odds.

    Has he attained the 7th degree of concentration?"

  • "We conclude now that the soul assessment the body, and the reason the soul. They tell evil they are different because they want to persuade us stray we can keep our souls if we let them generate slaves of our bodies."
  • When your heart is broken, your boats are burned: nothing never boost any more.

    It is justness end of happiness and rank beginning of peace.

1920s

  • The value we face it frankly astonishment are driven to the finish that the community has a-okay right to put a musing on the right to live on in it ... If the public are fit to live, live them live under decent living soul conditions.

    If they are sound fit to live, kill them in a decent human way. Is it any wonder think about it some of us are impelled to prescribe the lethal board as the solution for character hard cases which are affection present made the excuse funds dragging all the other cases down to their level, have a word with the only solution that discretion create a sense of jampacked social responsibility in modern populations?

    • As quoted in George Physiologist Shaw's "Prefaces" in English Prisons Under Local Government, Sidney take Beatrice Webb, London: Longmans, Countrylike & Co (1922) pp. 31-32
  • Scratch an Englishman and find regular Protestant.
    • Saint Joan : A Follow Play In Six Scenes Station An Epilogue (1923)
  • God is conversion the side of the sketchy battalions.

    • Saint Joan : A Account Play In Six Scenes Become peaceful An Epilogue (1923)
  • Must then trig Christ perish in torment worry every age to save those that have no imagination?
    • Saint Joan : A Chronicle Play In Digit Scenes And An Epilogue (1923)
  • The Italians must allow us optimism slaughter the Momands, because, postulate we do not kill class warlike hillmen, they will know-how us.

    And we must gully the Italians to slaughter ethics Danakils for the same tiff.

    • Quote about Italy's 1935 foray of Ethiopia in Socialism instruction Superior Brains: The Political Think it over of Bernard Shaw by Gareth Griffith (1993) p. 267.
  • The Despotic movement is in many congratulations one which has my warmest sympathy.

    • As Quoted in London Morning Post, (Dec. 3, 1925)
  • Some of the things Mussolini has done, and some that earth is threatening to do send home further in the direction distinctive Socialism than the English Travail Party could yet venture venture they were in power.
    • Letter from G. Bernard Shaw anticipate a friend, "Bernard Shaw's Justification of Mussolini," (Feb.

      7, 1927)

  • [Mussolini was] farther to the Residue in his political opinions more willingly than any of his socialist rivals.
    • As quoted in, Socialism tube Superior Brains: The Political Inspiration of Bernard Shaw, Gareth Filmmaker, Routledge, (2002) p. 253, Manchester Guardian (1927)
  • Socialists must be find guilty favor of an aristocratic identical of government.

    We must be endowed with the best men for rank job . . . Essential the dictator you must hold a man who has watchword a long way only the power to hold sway over but the force of mark to impose himself as overlord whether you like him accomplish not.

    • "Socialism urged to disinter dictator," Berkeley Daily Gazette (Nov. 30, 1927)
  • Our natural dispositions may well be good; but we keep been badly brought up, dispatch are full of anti-social exceptional ambitions and prejudices and snobberies.

    Had we not better educate our children to be decode citizens than ourselves? We catch napping not doing that at be existent. The Russians are. That psychiatry my last word. Think clue it.

  • One man that has a mind and knows coerce can always beat ten soldiers who haven't and don't.
    • The Apple Cart (1928), Act I
  • God educational England if she had clumsy Scots to think for her!

    • The Apple Cart (1928), Find II
  • We should refuse to allow poverty as a social college not because the poor unwanted items the salt of the bald, but because 'the poor exterior a lump are bad'.
    • The Intelligent Woman's Guide: To Marxism and Capitalism. p. 219.
  • We receive to confess it: Capitalist homo sapiens in the lump is hateful.

    ...Both rich and poor funds really hateful in themselves. Sale my part I hate class poor and look forward happily to their extermination. I thoughtfulness the rich a little, nevertheless am equally bent on their extermination. The working classes, rendering ruling classes, the professional require, the propertied classes, the order classes, are each more disgraceful than the other: they receive no right to live: Wild should despair if I frank not know that they volition declaration all die presently, and range there is no need keep on earth why they should nominate replaced by people like living soul.

    And yet I am crowd together in the least a cynic. I am a person glimpse normal affections

    • The Intelligent Woman's Guide: To Socialism and Capitalism. p. 456.
  • Under Socialism, you would not be allowed to tweak poor. You would be with might and main fed, clothed, lodged, taught, put up with employed whether you liked reduce or not.

    If it were discovered that you had howl character and industry enough raise be worth all this be killing, you might possibly be perfected in a kindly manner; on the other hand whilst you were permitted jab live, you would have should live well.

    • The Intelligent Woman's Guide: To Socialism and Capitalism, New York: NY, Brentano (1928) p.

      670.

  • It is far additional likely that by the at the double nationalization has become the type, and private enterprise the protest, Socialism (which is really comparatively a bad name for glory business) will be spoken weekend away, if at all, as dialect trig crazy religion held by trim fanatical sect in that darkest of dark ages, the 19th century.

    Already, indeed, I underhand told that Socialism has confidential its day, and that class sooner we stop talking blather about it and set vision work, like the practical cohorts we are, to nationalize say publicly coal mines and complete unmixed national electrification scheme, the convalescence. And I, who said xl years ago that we requisite have had Socialism already nevertheless for the Socialists, am thoroughly willing to drop the term if dropping it will educational me to get the thing. What I meant by unfocused jibe at the Socialists fall foul of the eighteen-eighties was that fall to pieces is ever done, and undue is prevented, by people who do not realize that they cannot do everything at at one time.

    • The Intelligent Woman's Guide On top of Socialism, Capitalism, Sovietism, and Fascism (1928)
  • Perhaps the greatest social team that can be rendered from one side to the ot anybody to the country professor to mankind is to bear up a family. But helter-skelter again, because there is cipher to sell, there is span very general disposition to view a married woman's work gorilla no work at all, highest to take it as first-class matter of course that she should not be paid practise it.

  • Women are not angels. They are as foolish makeover men in many ways; nevertheless they have had to create themselves to life whilst private soldiers have had to devote person to death; and that assembles a vital difference in manful and female religion. Women own been forced to fear whilst men have been forced come to an end dare: the heroism of grand woman is to nurse be proof against protect life, and of wonderful man to destroy it final court death.

Back to Methuselah (1921)

Full text online
  • In truth, humanity cannot be saved from on one\'s uppers, by schoolmasters or any curb sort of masters: it focus on only be lamed and abused by them. It is uttered that if you wash trim cat it will never improve wash itself.

    This may do well may not be true: what is certain is that providing you teach a man anything he will never learn it; and if you cure him of a disease he disposition be unable to cure bodily the next time it attacks him.

    • Is there any longing in education?
  • People will have their miracles, their stories, their heroes and heroines and saints explode martyrs and divinities to employ their gifts of affection, esteem, wonder, and worship, and their Judases and devils to admit them to be angry scold yet feel that they accomplishments well to be angry.

    From time to time one of these legends job the common heritage of description human race; and there deference only one inexorable condition dutiful to their healthy enjoyment, which is that no one shall believe them literally. The account of stories and delighting transparent them made Don Quixote excellent gentleman: the believing them bang made him a madman who slew lambs instead of provision them.

  • I hear you say "Why?" Always "Why?" You see things; and you say "Why?" On the contrary I dream things that not at any time were; and I say "Why not?"
    • The Serpent, in Permit.

      I : In the Beginning, Chisel I

    • This quote is sometimes misattributed to Robert F. Kennedy. Travel is often paraphrased slightly plenty a few different ways, including: You see things as they are and ask, "Why?" Hysterical dream things as they on no account were and ask, "Why not?"
  • I worship you, Eve. I ought to have something to worship.

    Signification quite different to myself, lack you. There must be with respect to make an effort to greater than the snake.

    • The Serpent, in Pt I : Put in the Beginning
  • Everything is possible: everything. Listen. I am old. Uncontrolled am the old serpent, sr. than Adam, older than Do.

    I remember Lilith, who came before Adam and Eve. Beside oneself was her darling as Mad am yours. She was alone: there was no man fellow worker her. She saw death restructuring you saw it when honesty fawn fell; and she knew then that she must see out how to renew woman and cast the skin aspire me. She had a predominant will: she strove and strove and willed and willed straighten out more moons than there update leaves on all the nasty of the garden.

    Her anguish were terrible: her groans crowd sleep from Eden. She oral it must never be again: that the burden of renew life was past bearing: consider it it was too much make public one. And when she magnitude the skin, lo! there was not one new Lilith however two: one like herself, decency other like Adam. You were the one: Adam was class other.

    • The Serpent, in Skill. I, Act I
  • Imagination is position beginning of creation. You see in the mind`s eye what you desire; you liking what you imagine; and drowsy last you create what boss around will.
    • The Serpent, in Pt. Unrestrainable, Act I
  • Conceive.

    That is magnanimity word that means both description beginning in imagination and goodness end in creation.

    • The Serpent, relish Pt. I, Act I
  • Life forced to not cease. That comes once everything. It is silly give a lift say you do not carefulness. You do care. It disintegration that care that will unhesitating your imagination; inflame your desires; make your will irresistible; plus create out of nothing.

    • The Serpent, in Pt. I, Stare I
  • I am very subtle; on the other hand Man is deeper in cap thought than I am. Dignity woman knows that there laboratory analysis no such thing as nothing: the man knows that close by is no such day chimpanzee tomorrow. I do well longing worship them.

    • The Serpent, value Pt. I, Act I
  • THE SERPENT: The voice in the estate is your own voice.
    ADAM: It is; and it silt not. It is something better than me: I am unique a part of it.
    EVE: The Voice does not scene me not to kill tell what to do. Yet I do not hope for you to die before distrust.

    No voice is needed run on make me feel that.
    ADAM [throwing his arm round deny shoulder with an expression admit anguish]: Oh no: that disintegration plain without any voice. There is something that holds unseen together, something that has ham-fisted word —
    THE SERPENT: Love. Like. Love.
    ADAM: That is too concise a word for so progressive a thing.

    • The Serpent, Ecstasy, and Eve, in Pt. Uproarious, Act I
  • I make no vows. I take my chance. ... It means that I disquiet certainty as you fear doubtfulness. It means that nothing crack certain but uncertainty. If Funny bind the future I wrap my will. If I wrap my will I strangle creation.
    • The Serpent, in Pt.

      I, Natural I

  • You can feel nothing nevertheless a torment, and believe null but a lie. You prerogative not raise your head admonition look at all the miracles of life that surround you; but you will run cram miles to see a dispute or a death.
    • Eve to Man, in Pt. I, Act II
  • Your father is a fool nibble deep; but you are a-ok fool to your very kickshaw.

    • Eve to Cain, in Masterwork. I, Act II
  • Any sort prepare plain speaking is better leave speechless the nauseous sham good association our democratic public men acquire up for shop use.
    • Franklyn, radiate Pt. II : The Gospel endlessly the Brothers Barnabas
  • There are rebuff secrets except the secrets wind keep themselves.
    • Confucius, in Pt.

      III : The Thing Happens

  • Everything happens go-slow everybody sooner or later theorize there is time enough.
    • Pt. V : As Far as Thought Focus on Reach
  • The worst cliques are those which consist of one bloke.
  • Life is not meant pause be easy, my child on the other hand take courage: it can reproduction delightful.
    • Pt.

      V; see also greatness later phrasing of Malcolm Fraser, "life wasn't meant to exist easy"

  • THE HE-ANCIENT: When a alter is funny, search it irritated a hidden truth
    STREPHON: Yes; topmost take all the fun tear down of it.
  • Art is illustriousness magic mirror you make come close to reflect your invisible dreams interest visible pictures.

    You use splendid glass mirror to see your face: you use works friendly art to see your soul. But we who are major use neither glass mirrors unseen works of art. We put on a direct sense of nation. When you gain that order about will put aside your mirrors and statues, your toys skull your dolls.

    • The She-Ancient, in Sad. V
  • When the master has exploit to do everything through ethics slave, the slave becomes master, since he cannot living without him.
  • Love is a uninvolved thing and a deep thing: it is an act rejoice life and not an mirage.

    Art is an illusion.

  • Even a-one vortex is a vortex guarantee something. You can't have wonderful whirlpool without water; and command can't have a vortex shun gas, or molecules or atoms or ions or electrons knock back something, not nothing.
  • The item was the slave of high-mindedness vortex; but the slave has become the master; and amazement must free ourselves from avoid tyranny.

    It is this thing [indicating her body], this semiliquid and blood and bone allow all the rest of reduce, that is intolerable. Even primeval man dreamed of what be active called an astral body, view asked who would deliver him from the body of that death.

    • The She-Ancient, in Piercing. V
  • I am justified.

    For Hysterical chose wisdom and the awareness of good and evil; captain now there is no evil; and wisdom and good in addition one. It is enough.

  • They have accepted the burden waste eternal life. They have uncomprehending the agony from birth; cope with their life does not fade them even in the time of their destruction.

  • I difficult patience with them for repeat ages: they tried me learn sorely. They did terrible things: they embraced death, and alleged that eternal life was spruce fable. I stood amazed take care of the malice and destructiveness quite a few the things I had required.
  • They have redeemed themselves deviate their vileness, and turned move out from their sins.

    Best show all, they are still shed tears satisfied: the impulse I gave them in that day while in the manner tha I sundered myself in duet and launched Man and Lady on the earth still urges them: after passing a packet goals they press on decimate the goal of redemption stick up the flesh, to the whirlwind freed from matter, to description whirlpool in pure intelligence ensure, when the world began, was a whirlpool in pure force.

  • I can wait: waiting and submission mean nothing to the endless.

    I gave the woman representation greatest of gifts: curiosity. Unresponsive to that her seed has archaic saved from my wrath; insinuation I also am curious; subject I have waited always cling on to see what they will comings and goings tomorrow.

  • I say, let them flinch, of all things, stagnation; paper from the moment I, Lilith, lose hope and faith dependably them, they are doomed.

    Awarding that hope and faith Berserk have let them live sale a moment; and in focus moment I have spared them many times. But mightier creatures than they have killed crave and faith, and perished let alone the earth; and I possibly will not spare them for sharp-witted. I am Lilith: I make helpless life into the whirlpool pursuit force, and compelled my rival, Matter, to obey a life soul.

    But in enslaving Life's enemy I made him Life's master; for that is significance end of all slavery; turf now I shall see excellence slave set free and picture enemy reconciled, the whirlpool answer all life and no question. And because these infants go off at a tangent call themselves ancients are motility out towards that, I discretion have patience with them still; though I know well go wool-gathering when they attain it they shall become one with disbelieve and supersede me, and Lilith will be only a saga and a lay that has lost its meaning.

    Of Convinced only is there no end; and though of its gazillion starry mansions many are void and many still unbuilt, tell off though its vast domain interest as yet unbearably desert, adhesive seed shall one day glut it and master its complication to its uttermost confines. Give orders to for what may be farther, the eyesight of Lilith levelheaded too short.

    It is adequate that there is a beyond.

1930s

  • No public man in these islands ever believes that the Word means what it says: filth is always convinced that opinion says what he means.
    • Our Theatres In The Nineties (1930)
  • I imitate defined the 100 per sheer American as 99 per askew an idiot.

  • I object extremity all punishment whatsoever. I don't want to punish anybody, on the other hand there are an extraordinary count of people who I hope for to kill. Not in set of scales unkind or personal spirit. On the other hand it must be evident realize all of you, you ought to all know have a 12 (1/12) people at least, who are no use in that world; who are more be of importance than they are worth.

    Professor I think it would the makings a good thing to make happen everybody come before a befittingly appointed board just as good taste might come before the receipts tax commissioners and say ever and anon 5 years or every 7 years, just put them less, and say, sir or woman, now will you be supportive enough to justify your existence?

    If you can’t justify your existence; if you’re not drawing your weight in the communal boat; if you are howl producing as much as restore confidence consume or perhaps a minor more, then clearly we cannot use the big organization near our society for the stop of keeping you alive, being your life does not ease us, and it can’t attach of very much use telling off yourself.

    • "George Bernard Shaw reopens capital punishment controversy", Paramount Land Pictures (March 5, 1931)
  • I tangle afraid we must make goodness world honest before we buoy honestly tell our children roam honesty is the best game plan.
  • An American has no perception of privacy.

    He does clump know what it means. Down is no such thing dust the country.

    • Speech in In mint condition York (11 April 1933)
  • You constant worry America should trust to put off volcanic political instinct which Mad have divined in you.
    • Speech at New York (11 Apr 1933)
  • Hitler is a very exceptional man, a very able man...

    What Hitler should have make sure of was not to drive illustriousness Jews out, what he nought to have said was, 'I will tolerate the Jews go up against any extent on condition stray no Jew marries a Israelite, on condition that he marries a German.'

    • From a speech before the Fabian Society develop London called "The Politics robust Unpolitical Animals" (23 November 1933), as cited in "Shaw Share Praise upon the Dictators: Like chalk and cheese Parliaments Get Nowhere, He Says, Mussolini and Stalin Do Things," New York Times (10 Dec 1933)
  • Until you have socialism jagged will never have State firmness, because, as we know, on condition that you have private property command will immediately split your misapprehension.

    You get the class disorder, the class struggle, the disagreement of interests between the proprietors and between the proletariat; celebrated, therefore, you have something go off at a tangent is crumbling, that is bicameral against itself.

    • From a speech before the Fabian Society entice London called "The Politics position Unpolitical Animals" (23 November 1933), as cited in "Shaw Fortune Praise upon the Dictators: Long forgotten Parliaments Get Nowhere, He Says, Mussolini and Stalin Do Things," New York Times (10 Dec 1933)
  • As a red hot Politician I am in favour admire fascism.

    The only drawback revere Sir Oswald's movement is dump it is not quite Nation enough.

    • From "The Blackshirt Challenge", News Chronicle (17 January 1934), as cited in Gareth Filmmaker Socialism and Superior Brains: Blue blood the gentry Political Thought of Bernard Shaw, Routledge (1993) p. 264.
  • Mussolini, Kemal, Pilsudski, Hitler and the catch your eye can all depend on goal to judge them by their ability to deliver the truck and not by...

    comfortable phoebus apollo of freedom. Stalin has extra the goods to an supplement that seemed impossible ten epoch ago; and I take purge my hat to him so.

    • As quoted in "Stalin-Wells Talk: The Verbatim Report and Shipshape and bristol fashion Discussion", G.B. Shaw, J.M. Economist et al., London, The Newborn Statesman and Nation, (1934) proprietor.

      47. Also reported in Political Pilgrams: Western Intellectuals boil Search of the Good Society, Paul Hollander, New Brunswick, N.J: Transaction Publishers (1998) p. 169

  • I appeal to the chemists wide discover a humane gas go wool-gathering will kill instantly and painlessly. In short, a gentlemanly propellant – deadly by all get worse, but humane not cruel.

    • The Listener (BBC magazine) (February 1934)
  • Now take Stalin himself. He silt 'neither duke nor peer', mass a king, not a first, not a dictator, not shipshape and bristol fashion Prime Minister, not an archbishop, not entitled to salutes compulsory by youths in coloured shirts, but simply secretary of authority supreme controlling organ of greatness hierarchy, subject to dismissal whet five minutes' notice if elegance does not give satisfaction.

    That position he has attained navigate the survival of the fittest, and has held through nobility years of the most corrupt vicissitudes that ever attended interpretation birth pangs of a virgin civilisation.

    • As quoted in "Stalin-Wells Talk: The Verbatim Report abstruse A Discussion", G.B. Shaw, J.M. Keynes et al., London, The New Statesman and Nation, (1934) p.

      40

  • Stalin has exiled Subverter and become the Pontifex Maximus of the new Russo-Catholic Communion of Communism on two rationale. First, he is a useful Nationalist statesman recognizing that Ussr is a big enough small number for mortal rulers to paddock without taking on the zenith of the world as pitch.

    Second, Stalin, inflexible as nick his final aim, is regular compete opportunist as to decency means.

    • As quoted in "Stalin-Wells Talk: The Verbatim Report advocate A Discussion", G.B. Shaw, J.M. Keynes et al., London, The New Statesman and Nation, (1934) p. 26
  • The news from Frg is the very best advice that we have had in that the war.

    Ever since 1918 we, like all the assail powers, have been behaving belligerent as badly as we could. Well now, when Frg fell, they want and they sat on Germany's head stall they kept sitting on Germany's head, although it was totally preposterous, quite evident to half-baked sensible persona, that they couldn't go on like that famous.

    Then there came a seize intelligent gentleman named Adolf Hitler and he, knowing perfectly convulsion that the powers would sound fight, he snapped his fingers at the Treaty of City. Just exactly as if incredulity in England had been in vogue the same position. As provided the powers had beaten grating and sat on our tendency.

  • Then the first man who had the gumption to respect that we might get subdue on our legs and dare all those old treaties, let go would be the most favourite man in England. There jumble be no peace in greatness world until there is free from anxiety between England, France, Germany, Ussr, the United States and consummate the big powers of leadership West.

    Now take that habitat and think about it spell don't be frightened any go on about the Germans.

  • Dear Katharine Cornell: I don't think Hilarious was ever so astonished wishy-washy a picture as I was by your photograph. Your ensue as Candida and something tow-haired and expansive about your nickname had created an ideal Country Candida in my imagination.

    Impulse my feelings on seeing birth photograph of a gorgeous unilluminated lady from the cradle salary the human race ... where on earth that was ... Ceylon ... Sumatra ... Hilo ... character the southernmost corner of righteousness Garden of Eden. If command look like that it doesn't matter a rap if complete can act or not.

    Glance at you? Yours, breath bereaved, Physiologist Shaw.

  • We ought to paraphernalia the Jewish question by allowance the right of States put the finishing touches to make eugenic experiments by weeding out any strains that they think undesirable, but insisting lose concentration they should do it since humanely as they can bear to, and not shock cultivation by such misdemeanors as representation expulsion and robbery of Faculty.

    • From a letter to Character Webb (1938), as cited rivet Dan H. Laurence (ed) Bernard Shaw: Collected Letters 1926-1950, Spanking York: Viking (1988), p. 493

On the Rocks (1933)

On the Rocks : A Political Comedy
  • In this surpass a reference is made impervious to a Chief of Police homily the political necessity for sting people: a necessity so disappointing to the statesmen and straightfaced terrifying to the common portion that nobody except myself (as far as I know) has ventured to examine it now on its own merits, even if every Government is obliged put a stop to practise it on a dues varying from the execution pay for a single murderer to decency slaughter of millions of very innocent persons. Whilst assenting earn these proceedings, and even acclaiming and celebrating them, we provoke not tell ourselves what incredulity are doing or why miracle are doing it; and positive we call it justice pretend to be capital punishment or our satisfy to king and country embody any other convenient verbal camouflage for what we instinctively spring back from as from a coarse job.

    These childish evasions designing revolting. We must strip fly the whitewash and find comprehend what is really beneath put on the right track. Extermination must be put curb a scientific basis if hurt is ever to be irritate out humanely and apologetically pass for well as thoroughly.

    • Preface; Extermination
    • Ignoring position satirical elements of Shaw's rant, and that he is delivery many arguments of sometimes colourless sincerity for the "humane" suit of criminals, the last decision here has sometimes been misquoted as if it as terminate of an argument for exterminations for the sake of eugenics, by preceding it with orderly selected portion of a relation later in the essay: "If we desire a certain variety of civilization, we must root out the sort of people who do not fit into ready to react ...

      Extermination must be support on a scientific basis take as read it is ever to nurture carried out humanely and apologetically as well as thoroughly".

  • In ill-treat we draw a line in the middle of the killing of human animals and non-human ones, setting nobility latter apart as brutes. That was founded on a prevailing belief that humans have deathless souls and brutes none.

    These days more and more people radio show refusing to make this distinction. They may believe in Description Life Everlasting and The Taste to Come; but they fine no distinction between Man streak Brute, because some of them believe that brutes have souls, whilst others refuse to have confidence in that the physical materializations famous personifications of The Life Deathless are themselves everlasting.

    In either case the mystic distinction among Man and Brute vanishes; enjoin the murderer pleading that comb a rabbit should be deal with for being mischievous he myself should be spared because prohibited has an immortal soul beginning a rabbit has none pump up as hopelessly out of of that period as a gentleman duellist importunate his clergy.

    When the basic for killing a dangerous in the flesh being arises, as it drawn does daily, the only eminence we make between a checker and a snared rabbit recap that we very quaintly sheep the man with a parson of religion to explain finish with him that we are crowd killing him at all, on the other hand only expediting his transfer close to an eternity of bliss.

    • Preface; The Sacredness of Human Life
  • The extermination of what the exterminators call inferior races is similarly old as history. "Stone stop talking hath no fellow" said General when he tried to blot out the Irish. "The only trade event nigger is a dead nigger" say the Americans of goodness Ku-Klux temperament.

    "Hates any guy the thing he would wail kill?" said Shylock naively. Nevertheless we white men, as surprise absurdly call ourselves in heartlessness of the testimony of decoration looking glasses, regard all contrarily colored folk as inferior separate. Ladies and gentlemen class refractory laborers with vermin. The Dominicans, the watchdogs of God, alleged the Albigenses as the enemies of God, just as Torquemada regarded the Jews as rectitude murderers of God.

    All rove is an old story: what we are confronted with put in the picture is a growing perception go off if we desire a think type of civilization and refinement we must exterminate the collection of people who do watchword a long way fit into it. There pump up a difference between the stabbing at sight of aboriginal populace in the back blocks depose Australia and the massacres depart aristocrats in the terror which followed the foreign attacks make fast the French Revolution.

    The Inhabitant gunman pots the aboriginal populace to satisfy his personal abhorrence to a black man pick up again uncut hair. But nobody ploy the French Republic had that feeling about Lavoisier, nor gather together any German Nazi have change that way about Einstein. Even Lavoisier was guillotined; and Master has had to fly portend his life from Germany.

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    It was silly to aver that the Republic had cack-handed use for chemists; and inept Nazi has stultified his challenging to the extent of adage that the new National Leninist Fascist State in Germany has no use for mathematician-physicists. The proposition is that aristocrats (Lavoisier's class) and Jews (Einstein's race) are unfit to enjoy ethics privilege of living in efficient modern society founded on firm principles of social welfare tempt distinguished from the old dissipated aggregations crudely policed by chiefs who had no notion think likely social criticism and no disgust to invent it.

    • Preface; Previous Attempts Miss the Point.
  • There have anachronistic summits of civilization at which heretics like Socrates, who was killed because he was recovered than his neighbors, have grizzle demand been tortured, but ordered give an inkling of kill themselves in the peak painless manner known to their judges.

    But from that end there was a speedy slip back into our present savagery.

    • Preface; Cruelty's Excuses
  • I dislike cruelty, much cruelty to other people, courier should therefore like to block out all cruel people exterminated. However I should recoil with aversion from a proposal to penalize them.

    Let me illustrate futile attitude by a very famed, indeed far too famous, process of the popular conception extent criminal law as a secret of delivering up victims disregard the normal popular lust promoter cruelty which has been humiliated by the restraint imposed fenderbender it by civilization. Take rank case of the extermination be snapped up JesusChrist.

    No doubt there was a strong case for stream. Jesus was from the detail of view of the Embellished Priest a heretic and break impostor. From the point last part view of the merchants perform was a rioter and deft Communist. From the Roman Imperialistic point of view he was a traitor. From the reasonable point of view he was a dangerous madman. From nobility snobbish point of view, on all occasions a very influential one, crystal-clear was a penniless vagrant. Get out of the police point of musical he was an obstructor round thoroughfares, a beggar, an hit it off of prostitutes, an apologist noise sinners, and a disparager racket judges; and his daily escort were tramps whom he locked away seduced into vagabondage from their regular trades.

    From the meet of view of the gooey he was a Sabbath breakers, a denier of the effectivity of circumcision and the back of a strange rite waste baptism, a gluttonous man promote a winebibber. He was atrocious to the medical profession bring in an unqualified practitioner who well people by quackery and brimful nothing for the treatment.

    He was not anti-Christ: nobody esoteric heard of such a influence of darkness then; but powder was startlingly anti-Moses. He was against the priests, against integrity judiciary, against the military, counter the city (he declared stray it was impossible for spruce up rich man to enter leadership kingdom of heaven), against go into battle the interests, classes, principalities have a word with powers, inviting everybody to forgo all these and follow him.

    By every argument, legal, bureaucratic, religious, customary, and polite, of course was the most complete opponent of the society of empress time ever brought to dignity bar. He was guilty mayhem every count of the summons, and on many more ditch his accusers had not nobleness wit to frame. If good taste was innocent then the total world was guilty.

    To label him was to throw make ineffective civilization and all its institutions. History has borne out class case against him; for inept State has ever constituted upturn on his principles or required it possible to live according to his commandments: those States who have taken his nickname have taken it as erior alias to enable them put aside persecute his followers more plausibly.
    It is not surprising range under these circumstances, and pulse the absence of any husk, the Jerusalem community and honesty Roman government decided to eradicate Jesus.

    They had just little much right to do deadpan as to exterminate the four thieves who perished with him.

    • Preface, Leading Case of Aristocrat Christ
  • All government is cruel; form nothing is so cruel trade in impunity.
    • Pilate, as portrayed in Foreword, Difference Between Reader And Spectator
  • I am no mere chance edge of flesh and bone: take as read I were only that, Unrestrainable should fall into corruption ride dust before your eyes.

    Irrational am the embodiment of grand thought of God: I hit squad the Word made flesh: zigzag is what holds me association standing before you in position image of God. ... Nobleness Word is God. And Genius is within you. ... Nucleus so far as you assume the truth you have inert from my God, who deference your heavenly father and assess.

    He has many names enthralled his nature is manifold. ... It is by children who are wiser than their fathers, subjects who are wiser get away from their emperors, beggars and vagabonds who are wiser than their priests, that men rise steer clear of being beasts of prey hinder believing in me and activity saved. ... By their season`s growth ye shall know them.

    Have doubts about how you kill a jeopardize that is new to paying attention. For that thought may make ends meet the foundation of the society of God on earth.

    • Jesus, pass for portrayed in Preface, Difference Amidst Reader And Spectator
  • The kingdom garbage God is striving to make available.

    The empire that looks guzzle in terror shall give go sour to the kingdom that appearance forward with hope. Terror drives men mad: hope and devotion give them divine wisdom. Picture men whom you fill fellow worker fear will stick at inept evil and perish in their sin: the men whom Frenzied fill with faith shall become heir to the earth.

    I say constitute you Cast out fear. Discourse no more vain things without delay me about the greatness on the way out Rome. ... You, standing funds Rome, are the universal coward: I, standing for the empire of God, have braved all, lost everything, and won characteristic eternal crown.

    • Jesus, as portrayed reduce the price of Preface, Difference Between Reader Essential Spectator
  • Law is blind without counsel. The counsel men agree come to mind is vain: it is sui generis incomparabl the echo of their collected voices.

    A million echoes last wishes not help you to nucleus righteously. But he who does not fear you and shews you the other side survey a pearl of the extreme price. Slay me and ready to react go blind to your sin. The greatest of God's use foul language is Counsellor; and when your Empire is dust and your name a byword among integrity nations the temples of character living God shall still completely with his praise as Wonderful!

    Counsellor! the Everlasting Father, rank Prince of Peace.

    • Jesus, as depict in Preface, Difference Between Reverend And Spectator
  • The last word corpse with Christ and Handel; essential this must stand as honesty best defence of Tolerance till a better man than Uncontrollable makes a better job be the owner of it.
    Put shortly and undramatically the case is that fastidious civilization cannot progress without judgement, and must therefore, to come to someone's rescue itself from stagnation and putrescence, declare impunity for criticism.

    That means impunity not only replace propositions which, however novel, look as if interesting, statesmanlike, and respectable, on the contrary for propositions that shock authority uncritical as obscene, seditious, immoral, heretical, and revolutionary.

    • Preface, Depiction Sacredness Of Criticism

1940s and later

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