A picture should be a re-creation of an event rather than an illustration of an object; but there is no tension in the picture unless there is a struggle with the object.

I foresee it and yet I hardly ever carry it out as I foresee it. It transforms itself by the actual paint. I don't in fact know very often what the paint will do, and it does many things which are very much better than I could make it do.

I have often thought upon death, and I find it the least of all evils.

He of whom many are afraid ought himself to fear many.

When a bee stings, she dies. She cannot sting and live. When men sting, their better selves die. Every sting kills a better instinct. Men must not turn bees and kill themselves in stinging others.

Men suppose their reason has command over their words; still it happens that words in return exercise authority on reason

Religion brought forth riches, and the daughter devoured the mother.