John Buchan
John Buchan
Full Name and Common Aliases
John Buchan was born on August 26, 1875, in Perth, Scotland. He is commonly known as Sir John Buchan.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: August 26, 1875
Died: February 12, 1940 (aged 64)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Buchan was a British author, politician, and war-time administrator. He is best known for his adventure novels, particularly The Thirty-Nine Steps, which has become a classic of the genre.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Scotland, Buchan developed a love for nature, literature, and politics from an early age. His father was a publisher's agent, and his mother was a schoolteacher. After completing his education at the University of Toronto and Christ Church, Oxford, Buchan began his career as a lawyer.
Major Accomplishments
Buchan's accomplishments are numerous:
He served in both World War I and II, reaching the rank of Brigadier General
He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Scottish Universities from 1910 to 1927
He held various cabinet positions, including Minister of National Service and Secretary of State for Air
He wrote over 100 books, including novels, short stories, biographies, and essays
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Buchan's most notable works include:
The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915) - a classic adventure novel that follows the story of Richard Hannay as he becomes embroiled in a spy plot
Greenmantle (1916) - another adventure novel, this time focusing on British intelligence agents during World War I
Pilgrim's Progress (1920) - a biographical study of John BunyanImpact and Legacy
Buchan's impact on literature and politics is significant:
His novels helped shape the thriller genre and influenced authors such as Ian Fleming and Robert Ludlum
His experiences in World War I and II informed his writing and shaped his views on politics and international relations
As a politician, Buchan played a key role in shaping British policy during times of war
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Buchan's quotes and writings are widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
His novels continue to captivate readers with their blend of action, adventure, and romance
His insights into politics, international relations, and human nature remain relevant today
* As a writer and politician, Buchan embodied the values of service, duty, and patriotism, which continue to inspire people around the world
Throughout his life, John Buchan demonstrated an extraordinary ability to balance creative pursuits with public service. His legacy as a writer, politician, and war-time administrator continues to captivate readers and inspire new generations.
Quotes by John Buchan
John Buchan's insights on:
Prayer opens the heart to God, and it is the means by which the soul, though empty, is filled by God.
Most true points are fine points. There never was a dispute between mortals where both sides hadn’t a bit of right.
Our ignorance of the future has been wisely ordained of Heaven. For unless man were to be like God and know everything, it is better that he should know nothing. If he knows one fact only, instead of profiting by it he will assuredly land in the soup.
London is like the tropical bush – if you don’t exercise constant care the jungle, in the shape of the slums, will break in.
I was not a murderer, but I had become an unholy liar, a shameless impostor, and a highwayman with a marked taste for expensive motor-cars.
A little thing, lasting only a second, and the odds were a thousand to one that I might have had my eyes on my cards at the time and missed it. But I didn’t, and, in a flash, the air seemed to clear. Some shadow lifted from my brain, and I was looking at the three men with full and absolute recognition.
It was foreordained that I should go alone to Umvelos’, and in the promptings of my own infallible heart I believed I saw the workings of Omnipotence. Such is our moral arrogance, and yet without such a belief I think that mankind would have ever been content to bide sluggishly at home.
The world was arrogant and self-satisfied, but behind all this confidence there was an uneasy sense of impending disaster. The old creeds, both religious and political, were largely in the process of dissolution, but we did not realise the fact, and therefore did not look for new foundations.