John Buchan Quotes

On this page you can find the TOP of John Buchan's best quotes! We hope you will find some sayings from Former Governor General of Canada John Buchan's in our collection, which will inspire you to new achievements! There are currently 57 quotes on this page collected since August 26, 1875! Share our collection of quotes with your friends on social media so that they can find something to inspire them!
All quotes by John Buchan: Mankind more...
  • History gives us a kind of chart, and we dare not surrender even a small rushlight in the darkness. The hasty reformer who does not remember the past will find himself condemned to repeat it.

    John Buchan (1923). “Great Britain: The Nations of To-day : a New History of the World”
  • You think that a wall as solid as the earth separates civilization from barbarism. I tell you the division is a thread, a sheet of glass. A touch here, a push there, and you bring back the reign of Saturn.

    1916 The Power-House, ch.3,'Tells of a Midsummer Night'.
  • I once played the chief part in a rather exciting business without ever once budging from London . And the joke of it was that the man who went out to look for adventure only saw a bit of the game, and I who sat in my chambers saw it all and pulled the strings. 'They also serve who only stand and wait,' you know.

    John Buchan (2016). “The Complete Works of John Buchan (Unabridged): Thriller Classics, Spy Novels, Supernatural Tales, Short Stories, Poetry, Historical Works, The Great War Writings, Essays, Biographies & Memoirs – All in One Volume”, p.1649, e-artnow
  • Every man at the bottom of his heart believes that he is a born detective.

    John Buchan (2016). “SIR EDWARD LEITHEN Complete Collection – 6 Titles in One Premium Edition (Mystery & Thriller Series): The Power-House, John Macnab, The Dancing Floor, The Gap in the Curtain, Sick Heart River & Sing a Song of Sixpence”, p.17, e-artnow
  • An atheist is a man who has no invisible means of support.

    Quoted in Harry E. Fosdick, On Being a Real Person (1943)
  • Most true points are fine points. There never was a dispute between mortals where both sides hadn't a bit of right.

    John Buchan (2016). “THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS & Other Adventure Stories (7 Action-Packed Titles in One Volume): Gripping Tales of Dangerous Exploits, Mysteries & Espionage Intrigue: The Thirty-Nine Steps, Midwinter, Prester John, A Prince of the Captivity, Salute to Adventurers, The Path of the King...”, p.1111, e-artnow
  • The world was arrogant and self-satisfied, but behind all this confidence there was an uneasy sense of impending disaster. The old creeds, both religious and political, were largely in the process of dissolution, but we did not realise the fact, and therefore did not look for new foundations.

    "A University's Bequest to Yout". John Buchan's speech in Toronto (October 10, 1936), as quoted in John Buchan "Canadian Occasions", 1940.
  • Civilisation is a conspiracy.

    John Buchan (2010). “The Leithen Stories”, p.29, Canongate Books
  • We can pay our debts to the past by putting the future in debt to ourselves.

    Address to the people of Canada on the coronation of George VI, May 12, 1937.
  • But some love not the method of your first; Romance they count it, throw't away as dust; If I should meet with such, what should I say; Must I slight them as they slight me, or nay

  • I was a peaceful sedentary man, a lover of a quiet life, with no appetite for perils and commotions. But I was beginning to realise that I was very obstinate.

    John Buchan (2016). “JOHN BUCHAN Ultimate Collection: Spy Classics, Thrillers, Adventure Novels & Short Stories, Including Historical Works and Essays (Illustrated): Scottish Poems, World War I Books & Mystery Novels like Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, Huntingtower, No Man’s Land, Prester John and many more”, p.817, e-artnow
  • Our sufferings have taught us that no nation is sufficient unto itself, and that our prosperity depends in the long run, not upon the failures of our neighbors but their successes.

    "A University's Bequest to Yout". John Buchan's speech in Toronto (October 10, 1936), as quoted in John Buchan "Canadian Occasions", 1940.
  • If those extra-social brains are so potent, why after all do they effect so little? A dull police-officer, with the machine behind him, can afford to laugh at most experiments in anarchy.

    John Buchan (2016). “JOHN BUCHAN Ultimate Collection: Spy Classics, Thrillers, Adventure Novels & Short Stories, Including Historical Works and Essays (Illustrated): Scottish Poems, World War I Books & Mystery Novels like Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, Huntingtower, No Man’s Land, Prester John and many more”, p.807, e-artnow
  • Any large-scale organization must lose some of the merits of its rudimentary beginnings. Quantity will have a coarsening effect on quality.

    John Buchan (1937). “Augustus”
  • Pessimism is the one ism which kills the soul.

  • The Church of Christ is an anvil which has worn out many hammers. Our opponents may boast of their strength, but they do not realize what they have challenged.

  • The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.

    John Buchan (1921). “Great Hours in Sport”, London : T. Nelson
  • He who would valiant be against all disaster; let him in constancy follow the Master. There's no discouragement shall make him once relent; his first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

  • Young girls passed me with romance still in their eyes, and others, a little older, with the romance dead.

    John Buchan (2016). “The Complete Works of John Buchan (Unabridged): Thriller Classics, Spy Novels, Supernatural Tales, Short Stories, Poetry, Historical Works, The Great War Writings, Essays, Biographies & Memoirs – All in One Volume”, p.3291, e-artnow
  • "What would you call the highest happiness, Lewie?" he asked. "The sense of competence," was the answer, given without hesitation.

    "The Half-Hearted".
  • I believe that all wisdom consists in caring immensely for a few right things, and not caring a straw about the rest.

    John Buchan (2016). “The Complete Works of John Buchan (Unabridged): Thriller Classics, Spy Novels, Supernatural Tales, Short Stories, Poetry, Historical Works, The Great War Writings, Essays, Biographies & Memoirs – All in One Volume”, p.1830, e-artnow
  • He disliked emotion, not because he felt lightly, but because he felt deeply.

    John Buchan (2016). “MYSTERY & ESPIONAGE Ultimate Collection – Complete Richard Hannay, Dickson McCunn & Sir Edward Leithen Series in One Premium Edition: The Greatest Tales of Mystery, Espionage & Nail-Biting Suspense: The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, The Three Hostages, Huntingtower, The Power-House, The Gap in the Curtain and many more”, p.2890, e-artnow
  • Fortunately for mankind the brain in a life of action turns more to the matter in hand than to conjuring up the chances of the future.

    John Buchan (2016). “The Complete Novels of John Buchan: 25+ Spy Classics, Thrillers & Adventure Novels in One Premium Edition (Unabridged): Including Richard Hannay Series, Dickson McCunn Trilogy & Sir Edward Leithen Series along with Midwinter, Witchwood, The Blanket of the Dark, The Free Fishers and more”, p.3483, e-artnow
  • Civilisation needs more than the law to hold it together. You see, all mankind are not equally willing to accept as divine justice what is called human law.

    John Buchan (2016). “JOHN BUCHAN Ultimate Collection: Spy Classics, Thrillers, Adventure Novels & Short Stories, Including Historical Works and Essays (Illustrated): Scottish Poems, World War I Books & Mystery Novels like Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, Huntingtower, No Man’s Land, Prester John and many more”, p.803, e-artnow
  • London is like the tropical bush -- if you don't exercise constant care the jungle, in the shape of the slums, will break in.

    John Buchan (2016). “The Complete Works of John Buchan (Unabridged): Thriller Classics, Spy Novels, Supernatural Tales, Short Stories, Poetry, Historical Works, The Great War Writings, Essays, Biographies & Memoirs – All in One Volume”, p.663, e-artnow
  • The vows we take in the holy place bind us till we are purged of them at Inanda's Kraal. Till then no blood must be shed and no flesh eaten. It was the fashion of our forefathers.

    John Buchan (2016). “JOHN BUCHAN Ultimate Collection: Spy Classics, Thrillers, Adventure Novels & Short Stories, Including Historical Works and Essays (Illustrated): Scottish Poems, World War I Books & Mystery Novels like Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, Huntingtower, No Man’s Land, Prester John and many more”, p.1849, e-artnow
  • There may be peace without joy, and joy without peace, but the two combined make happiness.

    John Buchan (2016). “RICHARD HANNAY Complete Collection – 7 Mystery & Espionage Books in One Volume (Unabridged): The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, Mr Standfast, The Three Hostages, The Island of Sheep, The Courts of the Morning & The Green Wildebeest”, p.1471, e-artnow
  • [W]ithout humour you cannot run a sweetie-shop, let alone a nation.

    Funny  
    John Buchan (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of John Buchan (Illustrated)”, p.3978, Delphi Classics
  • The book trade is a spiritual barometer of a nations well-being.

  • It's a great life, if you don't weaken.

    Mr. Standfast ch. 5 (1919)
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  • We hope you have found the saying you were looking for in our collection! At the moment, we have collected 57 quotes from the Former Governor General of Canada John Buchan, starting from August 26, 1875! We periodically replenish our collection so that visitors of our website can always find inspirational quotes by authors from all over the world! Come back to us again!
    John Buchan quotes about: Mankind

    John Buchan

    • Born: August 26, 1875
    • Died: February 11, 1940
    • Occupation: Former Governor General of Canada