#or

I haven't sold to the movies. In other words, I haven't gotten any enormous checks yet. ↗

— Jack Vance

#checks #enormous #gotten #haven #i

Art produces ugly things which frequently become more beautiful with time. Fashion, on the other hand, produces beautiful things which always become ugly with time. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#always #beautiful #beautiful things #become #fashion

Man seeks to escape himself in myth, and does so by any means at his disposal. Drugs, alcohol, or lies. Unable to withdraw into himself, he disguises himself. Lies and inaccuracy give him a few moments of comfort. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#any #comfort #disguises #disposal #does

Emotion resulting from a work of art is only of value when it is not obtained by sentimental blackmail. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#emotion #obtained #only #resulting #sentimental

A true poet does not bother to be poetical. Nor does a nursery gardener scent his roses. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#bother #does #gardener #his #nor

The instinct of nearly all societies is to lock up anybody who is truly free. First, society begins by trying to beat you up. If this fails, they try to poison you. If this fails too, the finish by loading honors on your head. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#beat #begins #fails #finish #first

When a work appears to be ahead of its time, it is only the time that is behind the work. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#appears #behind #only #time #work

You've never seen death? Look in the mirror every day and you will see it like bees working in a glass hive. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#day #death #every #every day #glass

Asking an artist to talk about his work is like asking a plant to discuss horticulture. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#artist #asking #discuss #his #horticulture

If a hermit lives in a state of ecstasy, his lack of comfort becomes the height of comfort. He must relinquish it. ↗

— Jean Cocteau

#comfort #ecstasy #height #hermit #his