Death and vulgarity are the only two facts in the nineteenth century that one cannot explain away.
Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.
Children begin by loving their parents. After a time they judge them. Rarely if ever do they forgive them.
Charity creates a multitude of sins.
But then one regrets the loss even of one’s worst habits. Perhaps one regrets them the most. They are such an essential part of one’s personality.
Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship.
Better the rule of One, whom all obey, Than to let clamorous demagogues betray Our freedom with the kiss of anarchy.
Beauty has as many meanings as man has moods. Beauty is the symbol of symbols. Beauty reveals everything, because it expresses nothing. When it shows us itself, it shows us the whole fiery-coloured world.
As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular.
As long as a woman can look ten years younger than her own daughter, she is perfectly satisfied.
Art should never try to be popular. The public should try to make itself artistic.
Art never harms itself by keeping aloof from the social problems of the day: rather, by so doing, it more completely realises for us that which we desire.
