Personality is a very mysterious thing. A man cannot always be estimated by what he does. He may keep the law, and yet be worthless. He may break the law, and yet be fine. He may be bad without ever doing anything bad. He may commit a sin against society, and yet realise through that sin his true perfection.
Mediæval art is charming, but mediæval emotions are out of date. One can use them in fiction, of course; but then the only things that one can use in fiction are the only things that one has ceased to use in fact.
Man is complete in himself.
What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.
It's the old, old story. Love—well, not at first sight—but love at the end of the season, which is so much more satisfactory.
No nice girl should ever waltz with such particularly younger sons! It looks so fast!
Good resolutions are useless attempts to interfere with scientific laws. Their origin is pure vanity. Their result is absolutely nil. They give us now and then some of those luxurious, sterile emotions that have a certain charm for the weak. That is all that can be said for them. They are simply cheques that men draw on a bank where they have no account.
What is the difference between literature and journalism? Journalism is unreadable and literature is unread.
I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.
My husband is a sort of promissory note; I am tired of meeting him.