Jean Cocteau - Work Quotes

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Be a mere assistant to your unconscious. Do only half the work. The rest will do itself.

Jean Cocteau

When a work appears to be ahead of its time, it is only the time that is behind the work.

Jean Cocteau

Know that your work speaks only to those on the same wavelength as you.

Jean Cocteau

Emotion resulting from a work of art is only of value when it is not obtained by sentimental blackmail.

Jean Cocteau

Poetry, being elegance itself, cannot hope to achieve visibility. In that case, you ask me, of what use is it? Of no use. Who will see it? No one. Which does not prevent it from being an outrage to modesty, though its exhibitionism is squandered on the blind. It is enough for poetry to express a personal ethic, which can then break away in the form of a work. It insists on living its own life. It becomes the pretext for a thousand misunderstandings that go by the name of glory...

Jean Cocteau