The art of pleasing is more based on the art of seeming pleased than people think of, and she disarmed the prejudices of her enemies by the unaffected delight she appeared to take in themselves.

A man may be a great statesman, and yet dislike his wife, and like somebody else's. A man may be a great hero, and yet he may have an unseemly passion, or an unpaid tailor. But the British public does not understand this. ... It thinks, unhappily or happily as you may choose to consider, that genius should keep the whole ten commandments. Now, genius is conspicuous for breaking them.

I do not wish to be a coward like the father of mankind and throw the blame upon a woman.

Who has passed by the fates of disillusion has died twice.

There is no knife that cuts so sharply and with such poisoned blade as treachery.

Indifference is the invincible grant of the world.

Belief of some sort is the lifeblood of Art.