I wish you all manner of prosperity, with a little more taste.
—Alain-Rene Lesage (1668–1747) French Novelist, Dramatist
Taste cannot be controlled by law.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Lovers of painting and lovers of music are people who openly display their preference like a delectable ailment that isolates them and makes them proud.
—Maurice Blanchot (1907–2003) French Novelist, Critic
A truly elegant taste is generally accompanied with an excellency of heart.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
The hard truth is that what may be acceptable in elite culture may not be acceptable in mass culture, that tastes which pose only innocent ethical issues as the property of a minority become corrupting when they become more established. Taste is context, and the context has changed.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
For a long time I found the celebrities of modern painting and poetry ridiculous. I loved absurd pictures, fanlights, stage scenery, mountebanks backcloths, inn-signs, cheap colored prints; unfashionable literature, church Latin, pornographic books badly spelt, grandmothers novels, fairy stories, little books for children, old operas, empty refrains, simple rhythms.
—Arthur Rimbaud (1854–91) French Poet, Adventurer
A man of great common sense and good taste—meaning thereby a man without originality or moral courage.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
A man’s palate can, in time, become accustomed to anything.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
Every orientation presupposes a disorientation.
—Hans Magnus Enzensberger (1929–2022) German Author, Poet, Translator
The discovery of the good taste of bad taste can be very liberating. The man who insists on high and serious pleasures is depriving himself of pleasure; he continually restricts what he can enjoy; in the constant exercise of his good taste he will eventually price himself out of the market, so to speak. Here Camp taste supervenes upon good taste as a daring and witty hedonism. It makes the man of good taste cheerful, where before he ran the risk of being chronically frustrated. It is good for the digestion.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
No taste is so acquired as that for someone else’s quality of mind.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
Talk what you will of taste, you will find two of a face as soon as two of a mind.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Taste is, so to speak, the microscope of the judgment.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
I think “taste” is a social concept and not an artistic one. I’m willing to show good taste, if I can, in somebody else’s living room, but our reading life is too short for a writer to be in any way polite. Since his words enter into another’s brain in silence and intimacy, he should be as honest and explicit as we are with ourselves.
—John Updike (1932–2009) American Novelist, Poet, Short-Story Writer
Delicacy of taste is favorable to love and friendship, by confining our choice to few people, and making us indifferent to the company and conversation of the greater part of men.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Good taste is either that which agrees with my taste or that which subjects itself to the rule of reason. From this we can see how useful it is to employ reason in seeking out the laws of taste.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
I think I may define taste to be that faculty of the soul which discerns the beauties of an author with pleasure, and the imperfections with dislike.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Absolute catholicity of taste is not without its dangers. It is only an auctioneer who should admire all schools of art.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Without taste genius is only a sublime kind of folly. That sure touch which the lyre gives back the right note and nothing more, is even a rarer gift than the creative faculty itself.
—Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand (1768–1848) French Writer, Academician, Statesman
Talent, taste, wit, good sense are very different things but by no means incompatible. Between good sense and good taste there exists the same difference as between cause and effect, and between wit and talent there is the same proportion as between a whole and its parts.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Good taste is the first refuge of the non creative. It is the last ditch stand of the artist.
—Marshall Mcluhan (1911–80) Canadian Writer, Thinker, Educator
Taste and elegance, though they are reckoned only among the smaller and secondary morals, yet are of no mean importance in the regulation of life. A moral taste is not of force to turn vice into virtue: but it recommends virtue, with something like the blandishments of pleasure.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
I love everything that’s old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines; and, I believe, Dorothy, you’ll own I have been pretty fond of an old wife.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Everyone carries his own inch rule of taste, and amuse himself by applying it, triumphantly, wherever he travels.
—Henry Adams (1838–1918) American Historian, Man of Letters
Taste has no system and no proofs.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
All of life is a dispute over taste and tasting.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Errors of taste are very often the outward sign of a deep fault of sensibility.
—Jonathan Miller (1934–2019) English Theatre Director, Author
It is for the most part in our skill in manners, and in the observances of time and place and of decency in general, that what is called taste consists; and which is in reality no other than a more refined judgment. The cause of a wrong taste is a defect of judgment.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
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