Quotes from F. Scott Fitzgerald

Any person with any imagination is bound to be afraid.

My generation of radicals and breakers-down never found anything to take the place of the old virtues of work and courage and the old graces of courtesy and politeness.

Riches have never fascinated me, unless combined with the greatest charm or distinction.

Work like hell! I had 122 rejection slips before I sold a story.

Art invariably grows out of a period when, in general, the artist admires his own nation and wants to win its approval.

Artistic temperament is like a king with vigor and unlimited opportunity. You shake the structure to pieces by playing with it.

The clean book bill will be one of the most immoral measures ever adopted. It will throw American art back into the junk heap.

This general eclipse of ambition and determination and fortitude, all of the very qualities on which I have prided myself, is ridiculous, and, I must admit, somewhat obscene.

Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.

Switzerland is a country where very few things begin, but many things end.

Intelligence is measured by a person's ability to see validity within both sides of contradicting arguments.

The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.

It takes a genius to whine appealingly.

I've been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library.

The world, as a rule, does not live on beaches and in country clubs.

When people are taken out of their depths they lose their heads, no matter how charming a bluff they may put up.

It was testimony to the romantic speculation he inspired that there were whispers about him from those who had found little that it was necessary to whisper about in this world.

I love this simply because it's cute, and I guess it's a sign of the times in many respect. It's pretty much saying you complete me, only in the sweetest way possible.

You see I usually find myself among strangers because I drift here and there trying to forget the sad things that happened to me.

It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.

Before you criticize others, remember, they may not have had the same opportunities in life as you have had

I never blame failure - there are too many complicated situations in life - but I am absolutely merciless toward lack of effort.

Only remember west of the Mississippi it's a little more look, see, act. A little less rationalize, comment, talk.

Either you think, or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you.