Writer

Effort and result are never simultaneous. In art, only the result counts.

To light one candle to God and another to the Devil is the principle of wisdom.

There are those who dance to the rhythm that is played to them, those who only dance to their own rhythm, and those who don't dance at all.

We say of an animal that it is intelligent, and we say the same thing of a woman; but in neither case is it usually appropriate, clearly for very different reasons.

Drinking spirits cannot cause spiritual damage.

Perhaps it's more merciful to forget the dead instead of remembering them.

A woman who does not become the slave of just one man becomes the slave of all men.

There are no good or bad habits. All habits are, by definition, bad.

You can say the opposite of something you've said but you can't do the opposite of something you've done.

When there is nothing to fear is the time to begin fearing everything.

Art is good but it isn't the best.

Who learns most from a good book is the author.

Theology is the logic of the Devil.

Only one thing has to matter for everything to matter.

In French literature, you can choose a la carte; in Spanish literature, there is only the set meal.

A reformer knows neither how to do nor to undo.

Sensuality without love is a sin; love without sensuality is worse than a sin.

True art tries not to attract attention in order to be noticed.

You can hesitate before deciding, but not once the decision is made.

A belief which leaves no place for doubt is not a belief; it is a superstition.