That amenity which the French have developed into a great art . . . conversation. Cornelia Otis Skinner More Quotes by Cornelia Otis Skinner More Quotes From Cornelia Otis Skinner Women keep a special corner of their hearts for sins they have never committed. Cornelia Otis Skinner women heart love It is disturbing to discover in oneself these curious revelations of the validity of the Darwinian theory. If it is true that we have sprung from the ape, there are occasions when my own spring appears not to have been very far. Cornelia Otis Skinner curious apes spring There is no English equivalent for the French word flâneur. Cassell's dictionary defines flâneur as a stroller, saunterer, drifter but none of these terms seems quite accurate. There is no English equivalent for the term, just as there is no Anglo-Saxon counterpart of that essentially Gallic individual, the deliberately aimless pedestrian, unencumbered by any obligation or sense of urgency, who, being French and therefore frugal, wastes nothing, including his time which he spends with the leisurely discrimination of a gourmet, savoring the multiple flavors of his city. Cornelia Otis Skinner gourmet flavor cities To cement a new friendship, especially between foreigners or persons of a different social world, a spark with which both were secretly charged must fly from person to person, and cut across the accidents of place and time. Cornelia Otis Skinner cutting inspirational friendship The French have no such expression as 'killing time.' In their more philosophical vocabulary the term is 'passing time,' which means savoring all moments of it each to his individual enjoyment. While we battle with time, they relax with tempo. Cornelia Otis Skinner philosophical time mean mosquitoes were using my ankles as filling stations. Cornelia Otis Skinner mosquitoes ankles insects Public opinion which, to be sure, can at times be helpful, must never for an instant swerve us from what we know in our heart we are trying to convey. For honesty is the great requisite of art. If we remain honest with ourselves, art, which is always there, never lets us down. Cornelia Otis Skinner honesty trying art Women's virtue is man's greatest invention. Cornelia Otis Skinner women virtue memorable We all have our little illusions about our own mental abilities. Cornelia Otis Skinner illusion intelligence littles The reason for the scaffolding on the tower of Saint Germain-des-Près is that a rich American has purchased it and is having it crated for shipping. Cornelia Otis Skinner paris saint towers It's not that I don't want to be a beauty, that I don't yearn to be dripping with glamour. It's just that I can't see how any woman can find time to do to herself all the things that must apparently be done to make herself beautiful and, having once done them, how anyone without the strength of mind of a foreign missionary can keep up such a regime. Cornelia Otis Skinner missionary mind beautiful There are compensations for growing older. One is the realization that to be sporting isn't at all necessary. It is a great relief to reach this stage of wisdom. Cornelia Otis Skinner relief realization age ... I have always fallen for ads. The sweetheart of J. Walter Thompson, I have a peasant-like belief in whatever miracle they profess to effect. Cornelia Otis Skinner sweetheart miracle belief Courtesy is fine and heaven knows we need more and more of it in a rude and frenetic world, but mechanized courtesy is as pallid as Pablum ... in fact, it isn't even courtesy. Cornelia Otis Skinner rude heaven facts Tragedy can break the heart but not the dam of the tearducts while schmaltz can dissolve the most hardened sophisticate. Cornelia Otis Skinner tears tragedy heart All I have learned about horses is that they are beautiful overrated creatures and are all born quite insane. Cornelia Otis Skinner horse insane beautiful Emily and I have now reached the time in life when not only do we lie about our ages, we forget what we've said they are. Cornelia Otis Skinner age forget lying It's as though some poor devil were to set out for a large dinner party with the knowledge that the following morning he would be hearing exactly what each of the other guests thought of him. Cornelia Otis Skinner devil party morning That food has always been, and will continue to be, the basis for one of our greater snobbism does not explain the fact that the attitude toward the food choice of others is becoming more and more heatedly exclusive until it may well turn into one of those forms of bigotry against which gallant little committees are constantly planning campaigns in the cause of justice and decency. Cornelia Otis Skinner justice attitude food One learns in life to keep silent and draw one's own confusions. Cornelia Otis Skinner keep own silent life
