"

Bad people are, from the point of view of art, fascinating studies. They represent colour, variety and strangeness. Good people exasperate one's reaso...more

"

Thought and language are to the artist instruments of an art.Vice and virtue are the artist’s materials for an art. From the point of view of form, th...more

"

The pure and simple truth is, the truth is never pure and simple.

"

I want to be good. I can't bear the idea of my soul being hideous.

"

One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.

"

When I think of all the harm [the Bible] has done, I despair of ever writing anything to equal it.

"

I've put my genius into my life I've only put my talent into my works.

"

[Letter to William Ward, 11 July 1878]Dear Boy, Why don’t you write to me? I don’t know what has become of you.As for me I am ruined. The law suit is ...more

"

No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist.

"

For what is truth? In matters of religion, it is simply the opinion that has survived. In matters of science, it is the ultimate sensation. In matters...more

"

There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.The nineteenth century dislike of realism ...more

"

She...can talk brillantly upon any subject provided she knows nothing about it.

"

Spontaneity is a meticulously prepared art

"

No better way is there to learn to love Nature than to understand Art. It dignifies every flower of the field. And, the boy who sees the thing of beau...more

"

In old days books were written by men of letters and read by the public. Nowadays books are written by the public and read by nobody.