Quentin Crisp

“It is not the simple statement of facts that ushers in freedom; it is the constant repetition of them that has this liberating effect. Tolerance is the result not of enlightenment, but of boredom.”

“Health consists of having the same diseases as one's neighbors.”

“The consuming desire of most human beings is deliberately to plant their whole life in the hands of some other person. I would describe this method of searching for happiness as immature. Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.”

“Manners are love in a cool climate.”

“If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style.”

“The British do not expect happiness. I had the impression, all the time that I lived there, that they do not want to be happy; they want to be right.”

“Though intelligence is powerless to modify character, it is a dab hand at finding euphemisms for its weaknesses.”