The moral life of man forms part of the subject-matter of the artist, but the morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium.
A sense of duty is like some horrible disease. It destroys the tissues of the mind, as certain complaints destroy the tissues of the body. The catechism has a great deal to answer for.
They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only beauty.
Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.
Few people have sufficient strength to resist the preposterous claims of orthodoxy.
She wore far too much rouge last night and not quite enough clothes. That is always a sign of despair in a woman.
A virtue is like a city set upon a hill—it cannot be hid. We can conceal our vices if we care to—for a time at least—but a virtue will out.
Can't make out how you stand London society. The thing has gone to the dogs: a lot of damned nobodies talking about nothing.
You don't know what an existence they lead down there. It is pure, unadulterated country life. They get up early because they have so much to do, and go to bed early because they have so little to think about.
Nothing is so fatal to a personality as the keeping of promises, unless it be telling the truth.