The light constantly changes, and that alters the atmosphere and beauty of things every minute.

It took me time to understand my water lilies. I had planted them for the pleasure of it; I grew them without ever thinking of painting them.

The effect of sincerity is to give one's work the character of a protest. The painter, being concerned only with conveying his impression, simply seeks to be himself and no one else.

Light is the most important person in the picture.

One day I am satisfied, the next day I find it all bad; still I hope that some day I will find some of them good.

It was at home I learned the little I know. Schools always appeared to me like a prison, and never could I make up my mind to stay there, not even for four hours a day, when the sunshine was inviting, the sea smooth, and when it was joy to run about the cliffs in the free air, or to paddle in the water.

I am very depressed and deeply disgusted with painting. It is really a continual torture.