Without fear and illness, I could never have accomplished all I have

When I paint a person, his enemies always find the portrait a good likeness.

From the moment of my birth, the angels of anxiety, worry, and death stood at my side, followed me out when I played, followed me in the sun of springtime and in the glories of summer. They stood at my side in the evening when I closed my eyes, and intimidated me with death, hell, and eternal damnation.

The rich man who gives, steals twice over. First he steals the money and then the hearts of men.

A work of art comes only from inside a human being.

A person himself believes that all the other portraits are good likenesses except the one of himself.

The viewers must come to understand the sacredness of painting, so they will remove their hats as if they were in church.