What right those who govern have to govern they don't question, they just govern. Whether the people have a right to depose them that doesn't concern them. All they are concerned with is that the people will not be tempted to depose them.

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiation - creation - there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans.

If you've never eaten while crying you don t know what life tastes like.

Painting predicates what man wants to see, and what man ought to see, not what he ordinarily sees.

I consider him of no account who esteems himself just as the popular breath may chance to raise him.

Without my attempts in natural science, I should never have learned to know mankind such as it is. In nothing else can we so closely approach pure contemplation and thought, so closely observe the errors of the senses and of the understanding, the weak and strong points of character.

Beauty and Genius must be kept afar if one would avoid becoming their slave.