Poetry is a religion without hope. The poet exhausts himself in its service, knowing that, in the long run, a masterpiece is nothing but the performance of a trained dog on very shaky ground.

Artists can no more speak about their work, than plants can speak about horticulture.

Fight any instinct to be humorless, for humorlessness is the worst of all absurdities.

Understand that some of your enemies are amongst your best friends.

There is always a period when a man with a beard shaves it off. This period does not last. He returns headlong to his beard.

I am happy to exhibit, but not to put myself on exhibition.

I only fear the death of others. For me, true death is that of the people I love