I really don't see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty.
Having had a good upbringing nowadays is a great disadvantage as it excludes you from so many things.
How exaggerated is the importance of faith! Even in love it is but physiological, indipendently from will. Young men want to be faithful, and are not: old men want to be faithless and cannot.
The unfortunate aphorism proposed on Art as a Mirror of Nature is wantonely expressed by Hamlet to convince the listeners of their absolute madness over what concerns art.
Faithfulness is to the emotional life what consistency is to the life of the intellect: simply a confession of failures.
I love scandals about other people, but scandals about myself do not interest me. The have not got the charm of novelty.
Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people whom we personally dislike.
Thinking is the most unhealthy thing in the world, and people die of it just as they die of any other disease. Fortunately, in England at any rate, thought is not catching. Our splendid physique as a people is entirely due to our national stupidity.
I don't like principles. I prefer prejudices.
Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.