“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”

“Art creates an incomparable and unique effect, and, having done so, passes on to other things. Nature, upon the other hand, forgetting that that imitation can be made the sincerest form of insult, keeps on repeating this effect until we all become absolutely wearied of it.”

“Caricature is the tribute which mediocrity pays to genius.”

“To be popular one must be a mediocrity.”

“Paradoxically though it may seem, it is none the less true that life imitates art far more than art imitates life.”

“Ridicule is the tribute paid to the genius by the mediocrities”

“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.”