Satire chooses and knows no objects. It arises by fleeing from them and their forcing themselves upon it.

News reports stand up as people, and people wither into editorials. Clichés walk around on two legs while men are having theirs shot off.

Anesthesia: wounds without pain. Neurasthenia: pain without wounds.

To write a novel may be pure pleasure. To live a novel presents certain difficulties. As for reading a novel, I do my best to get out of it.

He who does without the praise of the crowd will not deny himself an opportunity to be his own adherent.

When a culture feels that its end has come, it sends for a priest.

Chastity always takes its toll. In some it produces pimples; in others, sex laws.