When I think of all the harm [the Bible] has done, I despair of ever writing anything to equal it.

The systems that fail are those that rely on the permanency of human nature, and not its growth and development.

The longer I live, Dorian, the more keenly I feel that whatever was good enough for our fathers is not good enough for us. In art, as in politics, les grand-pères ont toujours tort.

An egg is always an adventure; the next one may be different.

While one should always study the method of a great artist, one should never imitate his manner. The manner of an artist is essentially individual, the method of an artist is absolutely universal. The first personality, which no one should copy.

I made art a philosophy, and philosophy an art.

Now art should never try to be popular. The public should try to make itself artistic.