What interests me is to understand the nature of the modern.

[On marriage:] It is an institution committed to the dulling of the feelings.

In contrast to the written account-which, depending on its complexity of thought, reference, and vocabulary, is pitched at a larger or smaller readership-a photograph has only one language and is destined potentially for all.

I belong rather to a more classical tradition of social analysis.

The ratio of authentic literature to trash in pornography may be somewhat lower than the ratio of novels of genuine literary meritto the entire volume of sub-literary fiction produced for mass taste. But it is probably not lower than, for instance, that of another somewhat shady sub-genre with a few first-rate books to its credit, science fiction.

Rules of taste enforce structures of power.

Marriage is a sort of tacit hunting in couples.