Human knowledge and human power meet in one; for where the cause is not known the effect cannot be produced. Nature to be commanded must be obeyed; and that which in contemplation is as the cause is in operation as the rule.

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

They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.

All painting is an accident. But it's also not an accident, because one must select what part of the accident one chooses to preserve.

The worst men often give the best advice.

I feel that I am much freer if I'm on my own, but I'm sure that there are a lot of painters who would perhaps be even more inventive if they had people round them... I find that if I am on my own I can allow the paint to dictate to me. So the images that I'm putting down on the canvas dictate the thing to me and it gradually builds up and comes along.

Nothing is to be feared but fear.