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Jean Cocteau Quotes

Poet

Jean Cocteau was a French poet, playwright, novelist, and painter, renowned for his unique literary style and artistic achievements. Born on July 5, 1889, and passing away on October 11, 1963, Cocteau's work spanned poetry, drama, fiction, and painting. His creations often blended dreams and reality, profoundly influencing French literature and art in the 20th century.

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Famous Jean Cocteau Quotes

“The dead drug leaves a ghost behind. At certain hours it haunts the house.”

Certain House Hours Behinds Drug Addiction Ghost Smoking Opium Alcohol Addiction Smoking Cigars Funny Smoking

Book:Cocteau's world: an anthology of writings

Source: Cocteau's world: an anthology of writings

“People seek escape in myth by any means at their disposal, including drugs, alcohol, meditation, and lies.”

People Mean Lying Meditation Drug Including Myth Alcohol

Author:Jean Cocteau

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

World Stupid Drug Smell Opium

Book:Opium: The Diary of an Addict

Source: Opium: The Diary of an Addict

“If an addict who has been completely cured starts smoking again he no longer experiences the discomfort of his first addiction. There exists, therefore, outside alkaloids and habit, a sense for opium, an intangible habit which lives on, despite the recasting of the organism. The dead drug leaves a ghost behind. At certain hours it haunts the house.”

Source: Cocteau's world: an anthology of writings

“It is difficult to live without opium after having known it because it is difficult, after knowing opium, to take earth seriously. And unless one is a saint, it is difficult to live without taking earth seriously.”

Earth Difficult Known Knowing Drug Saint Opium

Book:Opium: The Illustrated Diary of His Cure

Source: Opium: The Illustrated Diary of His Cure

“Man seeks to escape himself in myth, and does so by any means at his disposal. Drugs, alcohol, or lies. Unable to withdraw into himself, he disguises himself. Lies and inaccuracy give him a few moments of comfort.”

Men Giving Mean Doe Moments Lying Comfort Drug Myth Alcohol Disguise Escapism

Author:Jean Cocteau

“Everything one does in life, even love, occurs in an express train racing toward death. To smoke opium is to get out of the train while it is still moving. It is to concern oneself with something other than life or death.”

Love Doe Stills Moving Drug Concern Train Oneself Smoke Racing Opium Life Or Death

Book:Opium: The Illustrated Diary of His Cure

Source: Opium: The Illustrated Diary of His Cure

About the Author

Born: July 5, 1889
Died: October 11, 1963
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 231

Books & Sources

Opium: The Illustrated Diary of His CureRelated source material

Cocteau's world: an anthology of writingsRelated source material

The Difficulty of BeingRelated source material

A call to order: written between the years 1918 and 1926 and including Cock and harlequin, Professional secrets, and other critical essaysRelated source material

Past tense: diariesRelated source material

The Holy Terrors (Les Enfants Terribles)Related source material

A Call to Order, Written Between the Years 1918 and 1926 and IncludingRelated source material

The Infernal Machine: And Other PlaysRelated source material

The journals of Jean CocteauRelated source material

BarbetteRelated source material

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