The day of my birth, my death began its walk. It is walking toward me, without hurrying.

Quote by Jean Cocteau

Topics: Jean Cocteau Quotes

The poet doesn't invent. He listens.

The poet doesn't invent. He listens.

There are truths which one can only say after having won the right to say...

There are truths which one can only say after having won the right to say...

In Paris, everybody wants to be an actor; nobody is content to be a spectator.

In Paris, everybody wants to be an actor; nobody is content to be a spectator.

Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for.

Poetry is indispensable - if I only knew what for.

The extreme limit of wisdom, that's what the public calls madness.

The extreme limit of wisdom, that's what the public calls madness.

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those...

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those...

What the public criticizes in you, cultivate. It is you.

What the public criticizes in you, cultivate. It is you.

True realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us...

True realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us...

Art is not a pastime but a priesthood.

Art is not a pastime but a priesthood.

Take a commonplace, clean it and polish it, light it so that it produces the...

Take a commonplace, clean it and polish it, light it so that it produces the...

There is always a period when a man with a beard shaves it off. This...

There is always a period when a man with a beard shaves it off. This...

Art produces ugly things which frequently become more beautiful with time. Fashion, on the other...

Art produces ugly things which frequently become more beautiful with time. Fashion, on the other...

Emotion resulting from a work of art is only of value when it is not...

Emotion resulting from a work of art is only of value when it is not...

An artist cannot speak about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture.

An artist cannot speak about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture.

Children and lunatics cut the Gordian knot which the poet spends his life patiently trying...

Children and lunatics cut the Gordian knot which the poet spends his life patiently trying...

All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects...

All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects...

The worst tragedy for a poet is to be admired through being misunderstood.

The worst tragedy for a poet is to be admired through being misunderstood.

Silence moves faster when it's going backward.

Silence moves faster when it's going backward.

The ear disapproves but tolerates certain musical pieces; transfer them into the domain of our...

The ear disapproves but tolerates certain musical pieces; transfer them into the domain of our...

An original artist is unable to copy. So he has only to copy in order...

An original artist is unable to copy. So he has only to copy in order...