Mervyn Peake: Quotes about life

Mervyn Peake was English writer, artist, poet and illustrator. Explore interesting quotes on life.

Mervyn Peake: 182 quotes3 likes

“For death is life. It is only living that is lifeless.”

Mervyn Peake book Titus Groan

Source: Titus Groan

“Life is too fleet for onomatopoeia.”

Mervyn Peake book Titus Groan

Source: Titus Groan

““Life must be various, incongruous, vile and electric. Life must be ruthless and as full of love as may be found in a jaguar’s fang.”
“I like the way you talk, young man,” said Grass, “but I don’t know what you’re saying.””

Mervyn Peake book Titus Alone

Source: Titus Alone (1959), Chapter 24 (p. 841)

“He had learned that there were other ways of life from the ways of his great home. He had completed an experience. He had emptied the bright goblet of romance; at a single gulp he had emptied it. The glass of it lay scattered on the floor. But with the beauty and the ugliness, the ice and the fire of it on his tongue and in his blood he could begin again.”

Source: Gormenghast (1950), Chapter 68, section 3 (p. 737)

“There is no point in erecting a structure,” said Muzzlehatch, taking no notice of Titus’s question, “unless someone else pulls it down. There is no value in a rule until it is broken. There is nothing in life unless there is death at the back of it. Death, dear boy, leaning over the edge of the world and grinning like a boneyard.”

Mervyn Peake book Titus Alone

Source: Titus Alone (1959), Chapter 14 (p. 826)

“They knew now that they could never accomplish that long carpet-journey with anything like Cutflower’s air, but he reminded them at every footstep, every inclination of the head, that the whole point of life was to be happy.”

Source: Gormenghast (1950), Chapter 34 (p. 570)

“Life must be various, incongruous, vile and electric. Life must be ruthless and as full of love as may be found in a jaguar’s fang.”

Mervyn Peake book Titus Alone

“I like the way you talk, young man,” said Grass, “but I don’t know what you’re saying.”
Source: Titus Alone (1959), Chapter 24 (p. 841)