The effect, if not the prime office, of criticism is to make our absorption and our enjoyment of the things that feed the mind as aware of itself as possible, since that awareness quickens the mental demand, which thus in turn wanders further and further for pasture. This action on the part of the mind practically amounts to a reaching out for the reasons of its interest, as only by its ascertaining them can the interest grow more various. This is the very education of our imaginative life.

I still, in presence of life... have reactions - as many as possible... It's, I suppose, because I am that queer monster, the artist, an obstinate finality, an…

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance, for our consideration and application of these things, and I know of no substitute whatever for th…

We must know, as much as possible, in our beautiful art...what we are talking about - and the only way to know is to have lived and loved and cursed and flound…

I loved writing about things when I was excited about them. It's not fun writing about bad movies. I used to think it was bad for my skin. It's painful writing…

In the pretext of the academic being detestable, the worst in the class was made a hero! He opens the door to the ethics of shit! Newness at whatever cost and …

The true test of all the arts, is not solely whether the production is a true copy of nature, but whether it answers the end of art, which is to produce a plea…