These beings have no other status, but that of cultivating the idea of beauty in their own persons, of satisfying their passions, of feeling and thinking.... Contrary to what many thoughtless people seem to believe, dandyism is not even an excessive delight in clothes and material elegance. For the perfect dandy, these things are no more than the symbol of the aristocratic superiority of his mind.

The lover of life makes the whole world into his family, just as the lover of the fair sex creates his from all the lovely women he has found, from those that could be found, and those who are impossible to find.

And over your unconsecrated head you'll hear the howling wolves lament their fate and yours the livelong year.

That in all times, mediocrity has dominated, that is indubitable; but that it reigns more than ever, that it is becoming absolutely triumphant and inhibiting, this is what is as true as it is distressing.

The study of beauty is a duel in which the artist cries out in terror before he is defeated.

Life has but one true charm: the charm of the game. But what if we’re indifferent to whether we win or lose?

Nearly all our originality comes from the stamp that time impresses upon our sensibility.