The form of government that is most suitable to the artist is no government at all. ... One might point out how the Renaissance was great, because it sought to solve no social problem, and busied itself not about such things, but suffered the individual to develop freely, beautifully, and naturally, and so had great and individual artists, and great, individual men. One might point out how Louis XIV, by creating the modern state, destroyed the individualism of the artist.

Genius learns from nature, its own nature. Talent learns from art.

But what world says that [I'm wicked]? It can only be the next world. This world and I are on excellent terms.

Individualism has really the higher aim. Modern morality consists in accepting the standard of one's age.

All art is at once surface and symbol.

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

I have said to you to speak the truth is a painful thing. To be forced to tell lies is much worse.