One is either judge or accused. The judge sits, the accused stands. Live on your feet.

Emotion resulting from a work of art is only of value when it is not obtained by sentimental blackmail.

How our old friend [Michelangelo] of the Sistine would have loved to photograph his workers, perched on the fragile planks. Dali was right to say Leonardo only worked from photographs.

The poet doesn't invent. He listens.

In two weeks, despite these notes, I shall no longer believe in what I am experiencing now. One must leave behind a trace of this journey which memory forgets. One must, when this is impossible, write or draw without responding to the romantic solicitations of pain, without enjoying suffering like music, tieing a pen to one's foot if need be, helping the doctors who can learn nothing from laziness.

When a work appears to be ahead of its time, it is only the time that is behind the work.

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?