There is no simple explanation for anything important any of us do, and the human tragedy, or the human irony, consists in the necessity of living with the consequences of actions performed under the pressure of compulsions so obscure we do not and cannot understand them.

~ Hugh Maclennan

Hugh Maclennan Irony Necessity Tragedy Understanding

An artist has to take life as he finds it. Life by itself is formless wherever it is. Art must give it form.

~ Hugh Maclennan

Hugh Maclennan Art Artist

The Greeks who knew everything understood that without the orgy there is no middle ground between bedlam and Toronto ... we need the healing grace of the orgy in this country.

~ Hugh Maclennan

Hugh Maclennan Canada Canadians

The Ottawa river flows out of Protestant Ontario into Catholic Quebec.

~ Hugh Maclennan

Hugh Maclennan Canada Canadians

The trouble with this whole country is that it's divided up into little puddles with big fish in each one of them.

~ Hugh Maclennan

Hugh Maclennan Canada Canadians

A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat.

~ Hugh Maclennan

Hugh Maclennan Writers Writing