There is no secrecy comparable to celerity.

I work for posterity, these things requiring ages for their accomplishment.

A man were better relate himself to a statue or picture than to suffer his thoughts to pass in smother.

A good name is like precious ointment ; it filleth all round about, and will not easily away; for the odors of ointments are more durable than those of flowers.

Above all, believe it, the sweetest canticle is Nunc dimittis, when a man hath obtained worthy ends and expectations. Death hath this also, that it openeth the gate to good fame, and extinguisheth envy.

I regret not starting to paint earlier...It is one of the few things I do regret.

We think according to nature. We speak according to rules. We act according to custom.