The only people who can be excused for letting a bad book loose on the world are the poor devils who have to write for a living.

Good Heavens! For more than forty years I have been speaking prose without knowing it.

There is no fate more distressing for an artist than to have to show himself off before fools, to see his work exposed to the criticism of the vulgar and ignorant.

Age brings about everything; but it is not the time, Madam, as we know, to be a prude at twenty.

I hate all men, the ones because they are mean and vicious, and the others for being complaisant with the vicious ones.

With a smile we should instruct our youth.

The general public is easy. You don't have to answer to anyone; and as long as you follow the rules of your profession, you needn't worry about the consequences. But the problem with the powerful and rich is that when they are sick, they really want their doctors to cure them.