If a hermit lives in a state of ecstasy, his lack of comfort becomes the height of comfort. He must relinquish it. – Jean Cocteau
When a work appears to be ahead of its time, it is only the time that is behind the work. – Jean Cocteau
Art produces ugly things which frequently become more beautiful with time. Fashion, on the other hand, produces beautiful things which always become ugly with time. – Jean Cocteau
Commissions suit me. They set limits. Jean Marais dared me to write play in which he would not speak in the first act, would weep for joy in the second and in the last would fall backward down a flight of stairs. – Jean Cocteau
All good music resembles something. Good music stirs by its mysterious resemblance to the objects and feelings which motivated it. – Jean Cocteau
Mystery has its own mysteries, and there are gods above gods. We have ours, they have theirs. That is what’s known as infinity. – Jean Cocteau
True realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us from seeing. – Jean Cocteau
We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don’t like? – Jean Cocteau
One of the characteristics of the dream is that nothing surprises us in it. With no regret, we agree to live in it with strangers, completely cut off from our habits and friends. – Jean Cocteau
The instinct of nearly all societies is to lock up anybody who is truly free. First, society begins by trying to beat you up. If this fails, they try to poison you. If this fails too, the finish by loading honors on your head. – Jean Cocteau
Man seeks to escape himself in myth, and does so by any means at his disposal. Drugs, alcohol, or lies. Unable to withdraw into himself, he disguises himself. Lies and inaccuracy give him a few moments of comfort. – Jean Cocteau
