That all war is physically frightful is obvious; but if that were a moral verdict, there would be no difference between a torturer and a surgeon. There are certain intellectuals who are too bright to be content with merely praising peace but who are infuriated by anybody praising war. If no war is possible, all criminality has its chance

It was not the house that grew dull, but I that grew dull in it. My wife was better than all women, and yet I could not feel it.

When some English moralists write about the importance of having character, they appear to mean only the importance of having a dull character.

The point is not that this world is too sad to love or too glad not to love; the point is that when you do love a thing, its gladness is a reason for loving it, and its sadness a reason for loving it more.

Plato was right, but not quite right.

All architecture is great architecture after sunset; perhaps architecture is really a nocturnal art, like the art of fireworks.

An artist will betray himself by some sort of sincerity.