“If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom, and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too.”

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.