There are no faster or firmer friendships than those formed between people who love the same books.

Pleasure is one of the most important things in life, as important as food or drink.

Being mad is even pleasant. But only a madman understands that.

I knew that I had to find out more about van Gogh. Even though I was far too young, and felt I did not have sufficient technique to write a book about Vincent van Gogh, I knew I had to try. If I didn't I would never write anything else.

To be an artist is first to be a manual laborer.

Everyone has their own personality, its own character, and if he respects that, everything would finally fall over for good only.

Reading has always been the largest and most irreplaceable pleasure for Vincent; reading about other people's successes and failures, joys and sufferings seemed to bury his own failures.