Jack London Quotes

The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. – Jack London

I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. – Jack London

The scab is a traitor to his God, his mother, and his class. – Jack London

I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. – Jack London

I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. – Jack London

The scab is a low-bred, selfish, weak-kneed hound-dog. – Jack London

Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things. – Jack London

The man with the black hat was the most powerful in the room. – Jack London

The man does better who runs little races he can always win. – Jack London

In the rapid sequences of a man’s earth-life, failing to cross an important ethical barrier usually constitutes the most deadly of failures. – Jack London

All I want is a fighting chance. – Jack London

Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well. – Jack London

The cruelties we inflict upon ourselves, injure our friends, set an evil example, destroy efficiency. – Jack London

The function of strength is to show what strength can do. – Jack London

Don’t loaf and invite inspiration; light out after it with a club. – Jack London

You can’t wait for inspiration; you have to go after it with a club. – Jack London

The greatest happiness you can have is to know that you do not necessarily require happiness. – Jack London

The love of children is like milk: it should be fresh and warm, for if it is allowed to cool, it is no longer sweet. – Jack London

The human breed is made of such stuff that one might destroy it— ere long, perhaps – Jack London

He had fallen into the pit, and he had cleared himself by climbing out upon their bodies. – Jack London

That is what his gods are—things, inanimate things of wood and stone, cunningly devised idols of polished brass or polished silver. – Jack London

He and his people were like gnats in the clutches of gigantic robots. – Jack London

I had to jump into my feet and confront my own weakness and doubting desires. – Jack London

Locked in the bodies of these yellow men I was homesick—homesick for the earth— my father the doctor was so dependent upon and of which he himself was so dependent. – Jack London

There are all sorts of false frontage in the world that lift their heads high and call themselves men. – Jack London

It was a catastrophe, a blow whose roots went far down deeper than I should ever know. – Jack London

They were hellions, so many of them, bad-meaning and worse-acting. – Jack London

The stars far apart are more—more impressive. – Jack London

Tea with foam so thick on top one could almost stand on it. – Jack London

I want to be among men, and among primitives. – Jack London

They have had time to starve and be glad they had worked for me. – Jack London

We are their superiors—of a stature superior to any man of them. – Jack London

And he showed a sudden reasonable, mother tooth-kindness toward my love. – Jack London

She was physically incapable of telling a lie. – Jack London

She was a big hearted, generous, uncertain girl, this Marie.

I wanted to tell the French people what these sisters were. – Jack London

We were her kith and kin; she her direct blood descendants 5 she cherished us all like sons and daughters. – Jack London

They are the hideous colors of a nightmare. – Jack London

Their arms were pale, bloodless, and a dazzling sight with the painted scorpions. – Jack London

The eyes of them had a reddish gleam to them—a snakelike brilliancy. – Jack London

There is no will-power behind half these manifestations. – Jack London

Revelry was the order of the day. – Jack London

They are the loudest whiners over their delicate nerves on face of the earth. – Jack London

He remembered there was so much besides skin there—human souls. – Jack London

Children gamboling in the fainting grass. – Jack London