To be away from home and yet to feel oneself everywhere at home; to see the world, to be at the centre of the world, and yet to remain hidden from the worldโimpartial natures which the tongue can but clumsily define. The spectator is a prince who everywhere rejoices in his incognito.
Charles BaudelaireBoth ardent lovers and austere scholars, when once they come to the years of discretion, love cats, so strong and gentle, the pride of the household, who like them are sensitive to the cold, and sedentary.
Charles BaudelaireLife has but one true charm: the charm of the game. But what if weโre indifferent to whether we win or lose?
Charles BaudelaireThe idea of beauty which man creates for himself imprints itself on his whole attire, crumples or stiffens his dress, rounds off or squares his gesture, and in the long run even ends by subtly penetrating the very features of his face. Man ends by looking like his ideal self. These engravings can be translated either into beauty or ugliness; in one direction, they become caricatures, in the other, antique statues.
Charles Baudelaire