573 Quotes by Charles Baudelaire

In order not to feel time’s horrid fardel bruise your shoulders, grinding you into the earth, get drunk and stay that way. On what? On wine, poetry, virtue, whatever. But get drunk!

I ask every thinking man to show me what remains of life.

God is a scandal, – a profitable scandal.

Evil is done without effort, naturally, it is the working of fate; good is always the product of an art.

A chance tear gleams, he dreams of gibbets, while smoking his hookah, with a dainty smile.

One should always be drunk. That's all that matters…But with what? With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you chose. But get drunk.

Exasperated, a drunk that sees things doubled, / I stumbled home, slammed the door, terrified, / sick, depressed, mind feverish and troubled, / wounded by mystery, the absurd, outside! / In vain my reason tried to take command, / its efforts useless in the tempest’s roar, / my soul, a mastless barge, danced, and danced, / over some monstrous sea without a shore!

Watteau, carnival where the loves of many famous hearts / Flutter capriciously like butterflies with gaudy wings; / Cool, airy settings where the candelabras' light / Touches with madness the couples whirling in the dance

My desire swollen with hope Will float upon your salty tears