Here I am trying to live, or rather, I am trying to teach the death within me how to live. Jean Cocteau More Quotes by Jean Cocteau More Quotes From Jean Cocteau How our old friend [Michelangelo] of the Sistine would have loved to photograph his workers, perched on the fragile planks. Dali was right to say Leonardo only worked from photographs. Jean Cocteau leonardoold-friendsphotograph Nothing is more intriguing than a still photograph in the middle of a motion picture... Just as an accident is a cry changed into silence and not a silence after a cry, photography is speed rendered motionless. Jean Cocteau crysilencephotography In exiling myself I am not exiling a monster, but a man whom society will not allow to live, since it considers one of the mysterious cogs in God's masterpiece to be a mistake. Jean Cocteau cogsmistakemen The artist is a kind of prison from which the works of art escape. Jean Cocteau prisonkindart Childhood knows what it wants - to leave childhood behind. Jean Cocteau childhoodbehindswant Cultivate everything the critics hated in your first work - that's what makes you unique. Jean Cocteau criticsuniquefirsts He who is affected by an insult is infected by it. Jean Cocteau insultaffected The skin of all of us is responsive to gypsy songs and military marches. Jean Cocteau skinsmilitarysong The actual tragedies of life bear no relation to one's preconceived ideas. In the event, one is always bewildered by their simplicity, their grandeur of design, and by that element of the bizarre which seems inherent in them. Jean Cocteau philosophylifeart Poetry is a religion without hope, but its martyrs guarantee the eternal truth of its dogma. Jean Cocteau martyrdogmaguarantees Since it's now fashionable to laugh at the conservative French Academy, I have remained a rebel by joining it. Jean Cocteau joiningrebellaughing The hot hall full of painted girls and American soldiers is a saloon in some Western film. This noise drenches us, wakens us to do something else. It shows us a lost path. Jean Cocteau girlsoldierhot The ultimate politeness in art consists of speaking only to those who are able to uncover and measure its relationships. Anything else is symbolic, and symbolism is merely transcendental imagery. Jean Cocteau ablesymbolismart Understand that some of your enemies are amongst your best friends. Jean Cocteau your-best-friendenemy What is style? For many people, a very complicated way of saying very simple things. According to us, a very simple way of saying very complicated things. Jean Cocteau stylesimplepeople The poet never asks for admiration; he wants to be believed. Jean Cocteau philosophyhistoryart The Louvre is a morgue; you go there to identify your friends. Jean Cocteau louvremorguesmuseums Perhaps I know to what extent I can go too far. Jean Cocteau i-canknows You are always concentrated on the inner thing. The moment one becomes aware of the crowd, performs for the crowd, it is spectacle. Jean Cocteau crowdsmoments Look out! Be on your guard, because alone of all the arts, music moves all around you. Jean Cocteau looksartmoving
