But really death seems the least awful thing that can happen to someone

My one concession to American sensibilities was to remove my nail polish.

People are obsessed by happiness, but there are a lot of other invigorating experiences available.

I keep the shutters closed because I like to work in a hermetic environment. I like mirrors. When you look out of the window, all you see is ugliness, but when you look in the mirror all you see is beauty.

The motivation of all artists is 'Look at me, Mum'.

My only criticism about Quentin Crisp is that the subversive must be ready to subvert themselves. I may dress for myself, but I undress for everybody else, whereas he never did that - he was never prepared to drop a bomb on everything he did.

[…] life is just the misery left between abortion and euthanasia […]