The liar at any rate recognizes that recreation, not instruction, is the aim of conversation, and is a far more civilized being than the blockhead who loudly expresses his disbelief in a story which is told simply for the amusement of the company.

To live in this world is a rare thing; most people just exist.

In all unimportant matters, style, not sincerity, is the essential. In all important matters, style, not sincerity, is the essential.

With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?

He has no enemies, but he is intensely disliked by his friends.

The only thing that can console one for being poor is extravagance.

When our eyes met, I felt that I was growing pale. A curious sensation of terror came over me. I knew that I had come face to face with some one whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself.