In society he always awaited an opportunity to say something striking and took part in a conversation only when that was possible.

His conversation was always sprinkled with wittily original, finished phrases of general interest.

These sayings were prepared in the inner laboratory of his mind in a portable form as if intentionally, so that insignificant society people might carry them from drawing room to drawing room.

And, in fact, Bilibin's witticisms were hawked about in the Viennese drawing rooms and often had an influence on matters considered important.