Quotes by Noël Coward

“Television is for appearing on - not for looking at.””

“If by any chance a playwright wishes to express a political opinion or a moral opinion or a philosophy, he must be a good enough craftsman to do it with so much spice of entertainment in it that the public get the message without being aware of it.””

“To know you are among people whom you love, and who love you – that has made all the successes wonderful, much more wonderful than they'd have been anyway.””

“It's a sad reflection on society how many people are shocked by honesty... and how few by dishonesty.””

“It's a pity you didn't have a little more brandy. It might have made you more agreeable!””

“It is my considered opinion that the human race (soi disant) is cruel, idiotic, sentimental, predatory, ungrateful, ugly, conceited and egocentric to the last ditch and that the occasional discovery of an isolated exception is as deliciously surprising as finding a sudden brazil nut in what you know to be five pounds of vanilla creams. These glorious moments, although not making life actually worth living, perhaps, at least make it pleasanter.””

“To hell with God damned "L'Amour." It always causes far more trouble than it is worth. Don't run after it. Don't court it. Keep it waiting off stage until you're good and ready for it and even then treat it with the suspicious disdain that it deserves...””

“People have died from hiccups, you know.””

“Success is far more perilous than failure, isn’t it? You’ve got to be doubly strong and watchful and wary.””

“Couldn't you see that all my flippancy was only a mask, hiding my real emotions--crushing them down desperately!””

“It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.””

“CHRISTMAS is at our throats again.””

“Criticism and Bolshevism have one thing in common. They both seek to pull down that which they could never build.””