Théophile Gautier

Je suis un homme pour qui le monde visible existe.

Virginity, mysticism, melancholy, – three unknown words, – three new maladies brought in by Christ.

Eyes so transparent that through them one sees the lucent soul.

Chance is the pseudonym of God when he did not want to sign.

Art for Art's Sake means, for its adepts, the pursuit of pure beauty – without any other consideration.

To be born is to have commenced to die.

There is nothing truly beautiful but that which can never be of any use whatsoever; everything useful is ugly.

Such in the Landes of our world is the poet's stance;
When he receives no wound, his treasure he'll retain.
With such deep cut mankind his heart must also lance,
To make him spill his verse, his gold tears' gushing rain!

Yes, the work comes out more fair,
From a form that rebels against
Handling,
Verse, marble, onyx, enamel.

Everything passes.–
Only robust art is eternal.
The bust outlives the city.
And the simple coin
Unearthed by a peasant
Reveals the image of an emperor.

Fancy demanding feeling from poetry! That's not the main thing at all. Radiant words, words of light, full of rhythm and music, that's poetry.