Questions are never indiscreet, answers sometimes are.

A true artist takes no notice whatever of the public. The public to him are non-existent.

Anybody can make history; only a great man can write it.

Women treat us [men] like humanity treats gods – they worship us and keep bothering us to do something.

Wickedness is a myth invented by good people to account for the curious attractiveness of others.

Yes, very sensible... People die of common sense, Dorian, one lost moment at a time. Life is a moment. There is no hereafter. So make it burn always with the hardest flame.

M. Zola is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.