Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by E. W. Howe (American Novelist)

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 a man is saved from being a thief by finding everything locked up.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Criminals, Crime

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: Argument, Satisfaction, Arguments

When men are not regretting that life is so short, they are doing something to kill time.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Spending time wisely, Time Management, Time

A modest man is usually admired, if people ever hear of him.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Humility, Modesty

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

Never tell a secret to a bride or a groom; wait until they have been married longer.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Secrets

No man’s credit is ever as good as his money.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Money

Families with babies and families without babies are sorry for each other.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Family, Children, Babies

The sounder your argument, the more satisfaction you get out of it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Satisfaction, Arguments, Argument

If you knew how cowardly your enemy is, you would slap him. Bravery is knowledge of the cowardice in the enemy.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Anxiety, Courage, Fear, Cowardice

The real tragedy of life is not being limited to one talent, but in failing to use that one talent.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Gratitude, Appreciation, Blessings

A man should be taller, older, heavier, uglier, and hoarser than his wife.
—E. W. Howe

I do not love my neighbor as myself, and apologize to no one.
—E. W. Howe

No one can help you in holding a good job except Old Man You.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Self-reliance, Success, Confidence

The way out of trouble is never as simple as the way in.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Justice, Trials

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

A loafer never works except when there is a fire; then he will carry out more furniture than anybody.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Motivation

Many people would be more truthful were it not for their uncontrollable desire to talk.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Truth

A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Anxiety, Difficulties, Fear, Advice, Adversity

I don’t want my friends to die for me; if they will just be polite and let me alone, I will be satisfied.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Satisfaction

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

Marriage is a good deal like a circus: there is not as much in it as is represented in the advertising.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Marriage, Advertising

A young man is a theory, an old man is a fact.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Assumptions, Theory

Living up to ideals is like doing everyday work with your Sunday clothes on.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Ideals, Perfection

Half the unhappiness in the world is due to the failure of plans which were never reasonable, and often impossible.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Realistic Expectations

Even if a farmer intends to loaf, he gets up in time to get an early start.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Morning, Punctuality

Nothing is wonderful when you get used to it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Familiarity

The most destructive criticism is indifference.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Boredom

The average man’s judgment is so poor, he runs a risk every time he uses it.
—E. W. Howe
Topics: Judgement, Judging, Judges, Judgment

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