John Baxter Quotes.

1. "To the French, sin—provided it is conceived with imagination and carried off with flair—is like the dust on an old bottle of burgundy, the streaks of gray in the hair of a loved one, the gleam of long, loving use on the mahogany of an ancient cabinet. It’s evidence of endurance, of survival, of life."
- John Baxter, Immoveable Feast: A Paris Christmas

2. "Our capacity for self-delusion appears almost infinite."
- John Baxter, The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris

3. "Opium had artistic significance, you know. Picasso smoked. He said the scent of opium was the least stupid smell in the world, except for that of the sea."
- John Baxter, The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris

4. "the essence of Paris is lost if seen through the double glazing of a hotel room or from the top of a tour bus. You must be on foot, with chilled hands thrust into your pockets, scarf wrapped round your throat, and thoughts of a hot café crème in your imagination. It made the difference between simply being present and being there."
- John Baxter, The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris

5. "The whole point of collecting is the thrill of acquisition, which must be maximized, and maintained at all costs."
- John Baxter, A Pound of Paper: Confessions of a Book Addict

6. "Having access to the library was all well and good, but as a collector you had to own the book."
- John Baxter, A Pound of Paper: Confessions of a Book Addict

7. "I loved reading but I loved books almost as much. Their look, their smell, their weight enshrined, to me, the worth that others found in religion, in bricks and mortar, even in relationships. A book could be friend, lover, family, priest, but more reliable than any of these. With books, one could wall off the world. In their shelter, a calm prevailed more profound than that of the stars or the sea."
- John Baxter, Five Nights in Paris: After Dark in the City of Light

8. "Though griffe literally translates as 'claw,' Parisians have redefined it to mean 'stamp,' 'label,' or 'signature.' It describes the pattern of favorite cafes, shops, walks, meeting places, which each of us imposes on the city and which makes it uniquely 'our Paris.' A griffe is no trivial thing. As surely as a passport, it identifies one as a bona fide resident, with loves, hates, tastes, and prejudices."
- John Baxter, Immoveable Feast: A Paris Christmas