80 Quotes by Théophile Gautier

Cats are the tigers of us poor devils.

High art alone is eternal and the bust outlives the city.

The pleasure in traveling consists of the obstacles, the fatigue, and even the danger. What charm can anyone find in an excursion when he is always sure of reaching his destination, of having horses ready waiting for him, a soft bed, an excellent supper, and all the eases and comfort he can enjoy in his own home! One of the great misfortunes of modern life is the want of any sudden surprise, and the absence of all adventure. Everything is so well arranged.

Only that which serves no end is beautiful; everything useful is ugly.

It is gentle manners which prove so irresistible in women.

With all women gentleness is the most persuasive and powerful argument.

White men should exhibit the same insensibility to moral tortures that red men do to physical torments.

There is nothing truly beautiful but that which can never be of any use whatsoever; everything useful is ugly, for it is the expression of some need, and man's needs are ignoble and disgusting like his own poor and infirm nature. The most useful place in a house is the water-closet.

It may well be that the pictures of Courbet, Manet, Monet and their like contain beauties which escape the notice of such old romantic heads as ours, already streaked with silver threads.