A journalist went to interview Jean
Cocteau, whose house was a jumble of
ornaments, paintings, drawings by famous
artists and books. Cocteau kept absolutely
everything and felt a deep affection for every
object. It was then, in the middle of the
interview, that the journalist decided to ask
Cocteau: 'If this house were to catch fire right
now and you could take only one thing with
you, what would you choose?'
'And what did he reply?' asks Álvaro
Teixeira, a fellow guest at the castle where we
were staying and himself an expert on Cocteau's
life.
'Cocteau said: "I would take the fire."'
And there we all sat in silence, applauding
in our hearts that brilliant response.


Paulo coelho