E. W. Howe (1853–1937,) fully Edgar Watson Howe, was an American novelist, essayist, and editor. Known for his iconoclasm and cynicism, he wrote realistic regional and romantic novels and coined widely circulated aphorisms.
Born in Treaty, Indiana, Howe started working on his father’s homestead in Missouri at age seven. He acquired much of his education while learning and practicing the printer’s trade, eventually becoming a journalist. He was editor and proprietor of The Daily Globe of Atchison, Kansas, 1877–1911, and later of E.W. Howe’s Monthly 1911–37. The latter was well-known for his aphoristic editorials.
Howe’s most famous novel, The Story of a Country Town (1883,) is a harshly realistic tale of the narrow life of Midwestern small-town life. Later Howe turned from realism to romance and wrote The Mystery of the Locks (1885) and The Moonlight Boy (1886,) which were less successful.
Known as “the Sage of Potato Hill,” Howe won celebrity as a commonsense coiner of shrewd and disillusioned aphorisms and observations. A character in The Story of a Country Town remarks, “A man with a brain large enough to understand mankind, is always wretched, and ashamed of himself.” One of Howe’s great admirers was the journalist and literary critic H. L. Mencken, who also wrote cynical aphorisms.
Howe’s other works include The Confession of John Whitlock (1891,) Country Town Savings (1911,) Ventures in Common Sense (1919,) The Anthology of Another Town (1920,) and Plain People (1929.) His autobiography is The Indignations of E.W. Howe (1933.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by E. W. Howe
Many people would be more truthful were it not for their uncontrollable desire to talk.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Truth
There is only one thing people like that is good for them; a good night’s sleep.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Relaxation, Sleep
If a woman doesn’t chase a man a little, she doesn’t love him.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Love
What people say behind your back is your standing in the community.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Reputation, Character
The feeling of sleepiness when you are not in bed, and can’t get there, is the meanest feeling in the world.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Sleep
The underdog often starts the fight, and occasionally the upper dog deserves to win.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Fight, Fighting
A modest man is usually admired, if people ever hear of him.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Humility, Modesty
A woman who can’t forgive should never have more than a nodding acquaintance with a man.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Forgiveness
The real tragedy of life is not being limited to one talent, but in failing to use that one talent.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Blessings, Gratitude, Appreciation
A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Fear, Adversity, Anxiety, Advice, Difficulties
Common sense is compelled to make its way without the enthusiasm of anyone; all admit it grudgingly.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Common Sense, Common Sense
The greatest thing in the world is for a man to be able to do something well, and say nothing about it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Doing
The most agreeable thing in life is worthy accomplishment. It is not possible that the idle tramp is as contented as the farmers along the road who own their own farms, and whose credit is good at the bank in town. When the tramps get together at night, they abuse the farmers, but do not get as much satisfaction out of it as do the farmers who abuse the tramps. The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Satisfaction, Arguments, Argument
I do not love my neighbor as myself, and apologize to no one.
—E. W. Howe
A theory is no more like a fact than a photograph is like a person.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Assumptions, Theory
There is nothing so well known as that we should not expect something for nothing—but we all do and call it Hope.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Hope
No one can help you in holding a good job except Old Man You.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Success, Confidence, Self-reliance
Families with babies and families without babies are sorry for each other.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Family, Children, Babies
The most destructive criticism is indifference.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Boredom
Any man who will look into his heart and honestly write what he sees there, will find plenty of readers.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Writing
When a man says money can do anything, that settles it. He hasn’t any.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Money
A boy doesn’t have to go to war to be a hero; he can say he doesn’t like pie when he sees there isn’t enough to go around.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Heroism, Heroes/Heroism, Heroes
No man’s credit is as good as his money.
—E. W. Howe
The little trouble in the world that is not due to love is due to friendship.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Reason
It may be a cold, clammy thing to say, but those that treat friendship the same as any other selfishness seem to get the most out of it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Friends and Friendship
None of us can boast about the morality of our ancestors. The record does not show that Adam and Eve were ever married.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Ancestors, Ancestry
To avoid mistakes and regrets, always consult your wife before engaging in a flirtation.
—E. W. Howe
To be an ideal guest, stay at home.
—E. W. Howe
I declare my belief that it is not your duty to do anything that is not to your own interest. Whenever it is unquestionably your duty to do a thing, then it will benefit you to perform that duty.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Duty
Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Worry
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