The more sensitive the lunatic, the less able is he to resist this prying interest of the normal human being. I felt that Renée's change of key - to myself, I compared Renée to a sweet melody, a little flat despite its laborious harmonies - was approaching.

— Colette

There are days when solitude is a heady wine that intoxicates you with freedom, others when it is a bitter tonic, and still others when it is a poison that makes you beat your head against the wall.

— Colette

There are no ordinary cats.

— Colette

The writer who loses his self-doubt, who gives way as he grows old to a sudden euphoria, to prolixity, should stop writing immediately: the time has come for him to lay aside his pen.

— Colette

Time spent with a cat is never wasted.

— Colette

Total absence of humor renders life impossible.

— Colette

We only do well the things we like doing.

— Colette

What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner.

— Colette

What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner.

— Colette

When she raises her eyelids it's as if she were taking off all her clothes.

— Colette