Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live; it is asking others to live as one wishes to live. And unselfishness is letting other people's lives alone, not interfering with them. Selfishness always aims at uniformity of type. Unselfishness recognizes infinite variety of type as a delightful thing, accepts it, acquiesces in it, enjoys it.

In modern life nothing produces such an effect as a good platitude. It makes the whole world kin.

Life, Lady Stutfield, is simply a mauvais quart d'heure made up of exquisite moments.

I'm sure I don't know half the people who come to my house. Indeed, from all I hear, I shouldn't like to.

All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital. When critics disagree, the artist is in accord with himself.

To give an accurate description of what has never occurred is not merely the proper occupation of the historian, but the inalienable privilege of any man of parts and culture.

Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation.