There are so many different kinds of stupidity, and cleverness is one of the worst. - Thomas Mann

He took in the squeaky music, the vulgar and pining melodies, because passion immobilizes good taste and seriously considers what soberly would be thought of as funny and to be resented.

For he used to say...that knowledge of the soul would unfailingly make us melancholy if the pleasures of expression did not keep us alert and of good cheer.

I must tell you that we artists cannot tread the path of Beauty without Eros keeping company with us and appointing himself as our guide.