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.

We build our character as a carapace to keep away the fear of the abyss. That's what our character is for.

Unhappiness lies in that gap between our talents and our expectations.

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.

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

I have wanted only one thing to make me happy. That thing is everything.

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