Society, civilized society at least, is never very ready to believe anything to the detriment of those who are both rich and fascinating. It feels instinctively that manners are of more importance than morals, and, in its opinion, the highest respectability is of much less value than the possession of a good chef.

I don't like Switzerland; it has produced nothing but theologians and waiters.

In one dancing saloon I saw the only rational method of art criticism I have ever come across. Over the piano was printed a notice: 'Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.'

When bankers get together they talk about art. When artists get together, they talk about money.

You know we poor artists have to show ourselves in society from time to time, just to remind the public that we are not savages.

I love scandals about other people, but scandals about myself don’t interest me. They have not got the charm of novelty.

All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital. When critics disagree, the artist is in accord with himself.