Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending the mind.

The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss, and commit to memory the one, and pass over the other.

Silence is the virtue of fools.

Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished.

I loathe my own face, and I've done self-portraits because I've had nobody else to do.

I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends: for I have taken all knowledge to be my province.

Velazquez found the perfect balance between the ideal illustration which he was required to produce, and the overwhelming emotion he aroused in the spectator.