Quotes from Jean Cocteau

I constantly regretted having to cut out bits of intense poetry. But one mustn't, at any cost, be seduced by an attractive idea if it hasn't got its right place.

Each day in the mirror I watch death at work.

Tact in audacity is knowing how far you can go without going too far.

Si le feu brûlait ma maison, qu'emporterais-je? J'aimerais emporter le feu...

Classifiable things reek of death. You must strike out in other spheres . . . quit the ranks. That's the sign of masterpieces and heroes. An original, that's the person to astonish and to rule.

Un beau livre, c'est celui qui sème à foison les points d'interrogation. »

W]e have a tendency to judge others according to ourselves.

Listen very carefully to the first criticisms of your work. Note just what it is about your work that the reviewers don't like; it may be the only thing in your work that is original and worthwhile.

Asking an artist to talk about his work is like asking a plant to discuss horticulture.

Gute Erziehung besteht darin, dass man verbirgt, wieviel man von sich selber hält und wie wenig von den anderen.

Sentir antes de comprender.

Opium resembles religion insofar as a magician resembles Jesus.

Jeannot la bêtise des amoureux est immense, végétale, animale, astrale. Que faire? Comment te faire comprendre que je n'existe plus en dehors de toi.

It is, it seems, a social crime to desire solitude.

?udo, ako potraje, prestaje da bude ?udo.Zato privi?enja tako brzo i nestaju.

The amazing advance public attention to this film is surely due not so much to us (I mean to the curiosity our undertaking arouses) as to that Beauty and Beast we thrilled over as children. Happily, there is some remnant of childhood in this jaded public. It is this childhood we must reach. It is the incredulous reserve of the adults that we must overcome.

Il y a dans le dessin une très grande jouissance. L'écriture, c'est le dessin noué autrement. (...) Et quand je dessine, j'écris, et, peut-être, que quand j'ecris, je dessine.

Wer mein Haus betreten will, der trete ein. Wem es hier gefällt, der bleibe. Ich weigere mich, etwas zu planen. Und wenn man mich fragt, was ich aus meinem Haus mitnehmen würde, wenn es brennt, antworte ich: das Feuer.

A half empty bottle of wine is also half full, but half a lie will never be half true

The spirit of creation is the spirit of contradiction, the breakthrough of appearances toward an unknown reality.

How admirable the attitude of one who has made good use of the time granted him and who did not interfere by trying to be his own judge. Duration of human life belongs to those who mould each moment, sculpture it and do not trouble about the verdict.

What is style? Saying complicated things in a simple way.

Les expériences dangereuses, le monde les accepte dans le domaine de l'art parce qu'il ne prend pas l'art au sérieux, mais il les condamne dans la vie.

Paris, however?because of her purely fortuitous beauty, because of the old things which have become a part of her, because of her entanglement of buildings and tenements?Paris yields herself in discovery as an attic beloved in our childhood gave up its secrets.