George Meredith

Cynicism is intellectual dandyism without the coxcomb's feathers.

Caricature is rough truth.

There is nothing the body suffers which the soul may not profit by.

Perfect simplicity is unconsciously audacious.

Why mayn't they do what men do?' the Hero cried impetuously. 'I hate that contemptible narrow-mindedness. It's that that makes the ruin and horrors I see. Why mayn't they do what men do? I like the women who are brave enough not to be hypocrites. By Heaven! if these women are bad, I like them better than a set of hypocritical creatures who are all show, and deceive you in the end.

Kissing don't last: cookery do !