The nature of men and women - their essential nature - is so vile and despicable that if you were to portray a person as he really is, no one would believe you.

The crown of literature is poetry.

The author always loads his dice, but he must never let the reader see that he has done so, and by the manipulation of his plot, he can engage the reader's attention so that he does not perceive the violence that has been done to him.

The ideal has many names, and beauty is but one of them.

For my part I cannot believe in a God who is angry with me because I do not believe in him. I cannot believe in a God who is less tolerant than I. I cannot believe in a God who has neither humour nor common sense.

The prestige you acquire by being able to tell your friends that you know famous men proves only that you are yourself of small account.

The Riviera isn't only a sunny place for shady people.