Quotes by Jean Cocteau

About Jean Cocteau:

Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau is best known for his novel Les Enfants Terribles (1929), and the films Blood of a Poet (1930), Les Parents Terribles (1948), Beauty and the Beast (1946) and Orpheus (1949). His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Yul Brynner, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, Albert Gleizes, Igor Stravinsky, Marie Laurencin, María Félix, Édith Piaf, Panama Al Brown, Colette, Jean Genet, and Raymond Radiguet.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

True realism consists in revealing the surprising things which habit keeps covered and prevents us from seeing.

Jean Cocteau

The ear disapproves but tolerates certain musical pieces; transfer them into the domain of our nose, and we will be forced to flee.

Jean Cocteau

There is always a period when a man with a beard shaves it off. This period does not last. He returns headlong to his beard.

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

The worst tragedy for a poet is to be admired through being misunderstood.

Jean Cocteau

The poet never asks for admiration; he wants to be believed.

Jean Cocteau

It is not I who become addicted, it is my body.

Jean Cocteau

There are truths which one can only say after having won the right to say them.

Jean Cocteau

Style is a simple way of saying complicated things.

Jean Cocteau

In Paris, everybody wants to be an actor; nobody is content to be a spectator.

Jean Cocteau

The greatest masterpiece in literature is only a dictionary out of order.

Jean Cocteau

Every poem is a coat of arms. It must be deciphered. How much blood, how many tears in exchange for these axes, these muzzles, these unicorns, these torches, these towers, these martlets, these seedlings of stars and these fields of blue!

Jean Cocteau

Ma véritable vie est née Après que j’ai connu Jeannot Maintenant nous mélangeons nos Chaussures dans la cheminée ✫ C’est pour toi que je fais des livres Pour toi des pièces et des vers Je les voudrais pareils au givre Que la vitre montre ...

Jean Cocteau

Les expériences dangereuses, le monde les accepte dans le domaine de l’art parce qu’il ne prend pas l’art au sérieux, mais il les condamne dans la vie.

Jean Cocteau

The smell of opium is the least stupid smell in the world.

Jean Cocteau

„Wer mein Haus betreten will, der trete ein. Wem es hier gefällt, der bleibe. Ich weigere mich, etwas zu planen. Und wenn man mich fragt, was ich aus meinem Haus mitnehmen würde, wenn es brennt, antworte ich: das Feuer.

Jean Cocteau

Mirrors should think longer before they reflect.

Jean Cocteau

When I write, I disturb. When I show a film, I disturb. When I exhibit my painting, I disturb, and I disturb if I don't. I have a knack for disturbing.

Jean Cocteau

All spiritual journeys are martyrdoms

Jean Cocteau

When a work appears to be ahead of its time, it is only the time that is behind the work.

Jean Cocteau

I am a lie who always speaks the truth.

Jean Cocteau

Author Bio

  • NameJean Cocteau
  • DescriptionFrench poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, boxing manager and filmmaker
  • BornJuly 5, 1889
  • DiedOctober 11, 1963
  • CountryFrance
  • ProfessionPainter; Playwright; Film Director; Poet; Choreographer; Illustrator; Novelist; Screenwriter; Writer; Composer; Librettist
  • AwardsCommander Of The Legion Of Honour