Art creates an incomparable and unique effect, and, having done so, passes on to other things. Nature, upon the other hand, forgetting that that imitation can be made the sincerest form of insult, keeps on repeating this effect until we all become absolutely wearied of it.

What is the good of friendship if one cannot say exactly what one means?

What men call the shadow of the body is not the shadow of the body, but is the body of the soul.

The trouble with the lower classes is that they lack the sense of tragedy given to them by the upper classes.

It is absurd to say that there are neither ruins nor curiosities in America when they have their mothers and their manners.

I have pleasures, and passions, but the joy of life is gone. I am going under: the morgue yawns for me. I go and look at my zinc-bed there. After all, I had a wonderful life, which is, I fear, over.

Absolute catholicity of taste is not without its dangers. It is only an auctioneer who should admire all schools of art.