The aim of the liar is simply to charm, to delight, to give pleasure. He is the very basis of civilized society.

It is a great mistake for men to give up paying compliments, for when they give up saying what is charming, they give up thinking what is charming.

The liar at any rate recognizes that recreation, not instruction, is the aim of conversation, and is a far more civilized being than the blockhead who loudly expresses his disbelief in a story which is told simply for the amusement of the company

Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.

In literature mere egotism is delightful.

Civilized society is one huge bourgeoisie: no nobleman dares now shock his greengrocer.