I am too fond of reading books to care to write them. - Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

"Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different."

"The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves. The basis of optimism is sheer terror."

"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

"I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them."

"Jemanden zu beeinflussen bedeutet, ihm eine fremde Seele zu geben."