Quotes from Mason Cooley

Now defined as art, the totem has lost cult, taboo, and custom.

People believe that photographs are true and therefore cannot be art.

In the great cities, winter glitters with art and feasting. But poetry, the country cousin, sees only the dearth of the fields.

The Muses inspire art and pretend not to notice when Mammon buys it.

Without civilization, we would not turn into animals, but vegetables.

'Be faithful to your roots' is the liberal version of 'Stay in your ghetto.'

Boredom and fear keep us working and obeying the laws.

Every work of art changes its predecessors.

The pleasantest part of work is having done it.

The novel avoids the sublime and seeks out the interesting.

One's fetishes are fascinating, but not because of their beauty or significance. The same could be said for one's genitals, or one's children.

The ugly can achieve an absoluteness beyond the reach of beauty.

Middle age went by while I was mourning for my lost youth.

Old age: I fall asleep during the funerals of my friends.

Vice is a dreary business. And virtue is not a lot of fun, either.

Sacred or not, sacrifice is an ugly business.

Children use all their wiles to get their way with adults. Adults do the same with children.

Some loves are like a vice that has ceased to give pleasure.

The self-righteous feel no need to be charming, and thus double their offensiveness.

Self-righteousness is the most shameless slut of all.

Self-righteous victims invite extra nails.

A sense of righteousness is even more dangerous than a violent temper.

The self-righteous rule out the possibility that they are what has gone wrong.

The winner gives up his chance to be a good sport.