“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.”
Art
“I am a lie who always speaks the truth.”
TruthAll Quotes by Jean Cocteau
“The actual tragedies of life bear no relation to one's preconceived ideas. In the event, one is always bewildered by their simplicity, their grandeur of design, and by that element of the bizarre which seems inherent in them.”
Design“Here I am trying to live, or rather, I am trying to teach the death within me how to live.”
Death“A true poet does not bother to be poetical. Nor does a nursery gardener scent his roses.”
Poetry“I am a lie who always speaks the truth.”
Truth“The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth.”
Poetry“Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for.”
Poetry“Since the day of my birth, my death began its walk. It is walking toward me, without hurrying.”
Death“Emotion resulting from a work of art is only of value when it is not obtained by sentimental blackmail.”
Art“We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?”
Success“Art is not a pastime but a priesthood.”
Art“I believe in luck: how else can you explain the success of those you dislike?”
Success“All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it.”
Good“You've never seen death? Look in the mirror every day and you will see it like bees working in a glass hive.”
Death“After the writer's death, reading his journal is like receiving a long letter.”
Death“Film will only became an art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper.”
Art“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.”
Society“The reward of art is not fame or success but intoxication: that is why so many bad artists are unable to give it up.”
Art“An artist cannot speak about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture.”
Art“Everything one does in life, even love, occurs in an express train racing toward death. To smoke opium is to get out of the train while it is still moving. It is to concern oneself with something other than life or death.”
Death