Civilization is not by means an easy thing to attain to. There are only two ways by which man can reach it. One is by being cultured, the other by being corrupt.

People sometimes inquire what form of government is most suitable for an artist to live under. To this question there is only one answer. The form of government that is most suitable to the artist is no government at all.

The husbands of very beautiful women belong to the criminal classes.

A woman's life revolves in curves of emotions. It is upon lines of intellect that a man's life progresses.

I don't like compliments, and I don't see why a man should think he is pleasing a woman enormously when he says to her a whole heap of things that he doesn't mean.

Art finds her own perfection within, and not outside of, herself. She is not to be judged by any external standard of resemblance.

The only thing worse than being misquoted is being sentenced to two years' hard labour for buggery