He has the manner of a giant with the look of a child, a lazy activeness, a mad wisdom, a solitude encompassing the world. Jean Cocteau More Quotes by Jean Cocteau More Quotes From Jean Cocteau Do not take up cause against the inaccuracies printed about you. They are your protection. Jean Cocteau protection printed causes Poetry is an ethic. By ethic I mean a secret code of behavior, a discipline constructed and conducted according to the capabilities of a man who rejects the falsifications of the categorical imperative. Jean Cocteau discipline men mean To be audacious with tact, you have to know to what point you can go too far. Jean Cocteau audacious tact manners Lack of manners is the sign of a hero. Jean Cocteau hero manners Vivre est une chute horizontale. Life is a horizontal fall. Jean Cocteau horizontal life-is fall Good music resembles something. It resembles the composer. Jean Cocteau composer In two weeks, despite these notes, I shall no longer believe in what I am experiencing now. One must leave behind a trace of this journey which memory forgets. One must, when this is impossible, write or draw without responding to the romantic solicitations of pain, without enjoying suffering like music, tieing a pen to one's foot if need be, helping the doctors who can learn nothing from laziness. Jean Cocteau pain memories believe Stupidity is always astounding, no matter how often one encounters it. Jean Cocteau encounters stupidity matter The public only takes up yesterday as a stick to beat today. Jean Cocteau criticism yesterday today Without opium, plans, marriages and journeys appear to me just as foolish as if someone falling out of a window were to hope to make friends with the occupants of the room before which he passes. Jean Cocteau journey rooms fall I have not looked at a newspaper in twenty years; if one is brought into the room, I flee. This is not because I am indifferent but because one cannot follow every road. Jean Cocteau twenties rooms years One must not mistake majority for truth. Jean Cocteau majority mistake Elegance ceases to exist when it is noticed. Jean Cocteau cease elegance Expect neither reward nor beatitude. Return noble waves for ignoble. Jean Cocteau rewards return noble If it has to choose who is to be crucified, the crowd will always save Barabbas. Jean Cocteau crucifixion crucifixion-of-christ crowds I have lost my seven best friends, which is to say God has had mercy on me seven times without realizing it. He lent a friendship, took it from me, sent me another. Jean Cocteau realizing mercy friendship People seek escape in myth by any means at their disposal, including drugs, alcohol, meditation, and lies. Jean Cocteau mean lying people The artist must know how far to go too far. Jean Cocteau know-how artist knows I want the kind of readers who remain children at any cost. I can tell them at a glance: loyalty to that first enchantment guards better than any cosmetic; than any diet, against the insults of age. But alas for such readers, who would huddle safe and sound in the asylum of their credulous enchantment as if in the womb-our enervating century offends them by its chaos, its fidgets of light and space, the host of its excuses for dividing , for rending oneself from others and from oneself. Jean Cocteau loyalty light children The only way to kill death is through photography. Jean Cocteau photography way
