“I thought with melancholy how an author spends months writing a book, and maybe puts his heart’s blood into it, and then it lies about unread till the reader has nothing else in the world to do.”

English novelist and playwright of the early-to-mid 20th century, Maugham was celebrated for his sharp, witty observations on human nature and society. His works—including *Of Human Bondage* and *The Razor’s Edge*—blend psychological insight with accessible storytelling, revealing both the complexities and contradictions of human behavior.