Nothing makes one so vain as being told that one is a sinner.

On an occasion of this kind it becomes more than a moral duty to speak one's mind. It becomes a pleasure.

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.

Bad art is a great deal worse than no art at all.

Nothing spoils romance so much as a sense of humor in the woman

My great mistake, the fault for which I can’t forgive myself, is that one day I ceased my obstinate pursuit of my own individuality.

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.