To judge from the notions expounded by theologians, one must conclude that God created most men simply with a view to crowding hell.

Let us give ourselves indiscriminately to everything our passions suggest, and we will always be happy...Conscience is not the voice of Nature but only the voice of prejudice.

It is always by way of pain one arrives at pleasure.

I've already told you: the only way to a woman's heart is along the path of torment. I know none other as sure.

Your body is the church where Nature asks to be reverenced.

Conversation, like certain portions of the anatomy, always runs more smoothly when lubricated.

In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice.

My passions, concentrated on a single point, resemble the rays of a sun assembled by a magnifying glass: they immediately set fire to whatever object they find in their way.

Crime is the soul of lust. What would pleasure be if it were not accompanied by crime? It is not the object of debauchery that excites us, rather the idea of evil.

Either kill me or take me as I am, because I'll be damned if I ever change.

One must do violence to the object of one's desire; when it surrenders, the pleasure is greater.

Of all the icy blasts that blow on love, a request for money is the most chilling.

The ribboned gallons that rule us like beliefs rooted in single experiences.

Philanthropy, charity, giving voluntarily and freely... call it what you like, but it is truly a jewel of an American tradition.

Y. That perfect letter. The wishbone, fork in the road, empty wineglass. The question we ask over and over.

Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?

Not enough." Margo rose and tucked the towel in place. " Come on, let's go stuff her in a locker. For old time's sake.

It seems to me that the civilized human being is a skeptic someone who believes nothing at face value.

Agitation is the marshalling of the conscience of a nation to mold its laws.

Do you work for the government, any government?” "I pay taxes, which means I work for the government, part of the time. Yes.

I mean, people don't know what race I am. They never know if I'm Hawaiian or Italian or Mexican or Spanish or white. I could play Jewish, I could play anything.