In the matter of furnishing, I find a certain absence of ugliness far worse than ugliness.
—Colette, 1944
Archive
Quotes
Think rich. Look poor.
—Andy Warhol, 1975There is no man so fortunate that there shall not be by him when he is dying some who are pleased with what is going to happen.
—Marcus Aurelius, c. 175As bad a dresser as I am, anything beats being judged by my character.
—David Sedaris, 1997“Abroad,” that large home of ruined reputations.
—George Eliot, 1866I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”
—Book of Ecclesiastes, 225 BCPeople who’ve drunk neat wine don’t care a damn.
—Hipponax, c. 550 BCIf I had no duties, and no reference to futurity, I would spend my life in driving briskly in a post-chaise with a pretty woman.
—Samuel Johnson, 1777A large city cannot be experientially known; its life is too manifold for any individual to be able to participate in it.
—Aldous Huxley, 1934Nothing is more narrow-minded than chauvinism or racial hatred. To me all men are equal; there are flatheads everywhere and I despise them all equally.
—Karl Kraus, 1909God is our father, but even more is God our mother.
—Pope John Paul I, 1978Law makes long spokes of the short stakes of men.
—William Empson, 1928Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
—Book of Proverbs, c. 150 BC