Quentin Crisp
Quentin Crisp (1908–1999) was an English writer, raconteur, and cultural figure best known for his memoir The Naked Civil Servant, which documented his life as an openly gay man in mid-20th-century London. He wrote columns, gave public readings, and later lived in New York, remaining influential for his aphorisms and public persona.
Quotes by Quentin Crisp
Quotes: 2
Fail Spectacularly Rather Than Disappear Quietly
In creative work, modest ambitions often yield modest results, whereas ambitious experiments can fail loudly yet advance the craft. Orson Welles’s Citizen Kane (1941) is celebrated, but Welles also made projects that were commercially troubled; the larger point is that audacity leaves a trace that cautious competence rarely does. Even when a work misfires, it can inspire others, open new techniques, or clarify a unique voice. Consequently, “spectacular” becomes a creative ethic: treat your attempts as meaningful contributions, not as tests of personal worth. That mindset makes risk feel less like self-harm and more like participation in a larger tradition of trying. [...]
Created on: 2/17/2026
To Know What You Prefer Instead of Saying What You Prefer Is a Great Distinction - Quentin Crisp
The message aligns with broader philosophical ideas about self-knowledge and authenticity, as discussed by thinkers like Socrates and existentialist philosophers who stress the importance of knowing oneself. [...]
Created on: 2/19/2025