We must grant the artist his subject, his idea, his donn´e: our criticism is applied only to what he makes of it.
Ideas are, in truth, force.
You wanted to look at life for yourself - but you were not allowed; you were punished for your wish. You were ground in the very mill of the conventional.
I have lived too long in foreign parts
When I am wicked I am in high spirits.
Until you try, you don't know what you can't do.