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

The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.

If one tells the truth, one is sure, sooner or later, to be found out.

You love the beauty that you can see and touch and handle, the beauty that you can destroy, and do destroy, but of the unseen beauty of life, of the unseen beauty of a higher life, you know nothing.

I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.

No artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style.

If the poor only had profiles there would be no difficulty in solving the problem of poverty