They had...finished their lives before their death - which is not always the end of life and often comes long before the end.

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly

The crimes of extreme civilization are probably worse than those of extreme barbarism, because of their refinement, the corruption they presuppose, a…

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly

The crimes of extreme civilization are certainly more atrocious than those of extreme barbarism.

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly

The artist's morality lies in the force and truth of his description.

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly

We priests are the surgeons of souls, and it is our duty to deliver them of shameful secrets they would fain conceal, with hands careful to neither w…

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly

Passions are less mischievous than boredom, for passions tend to diminish and boredom increase.

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly

Next to the wound, what women make best is the bandage.

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly

Yet, whether to the glory or to the shame of human nature, in what we call pleasure (with an excess of scorn, perhaps) there are abysses as deep as t…

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly

I did not want to be taken for a fool-the typical French reason for performing the worst of deeds without remorse.

- Jules Amedee Barbey D'Aurevilly