Our friends show us what we can do; our enemies teach us what we must do.

Art is long, life is short; judgement difficult, opportunity transient.

Art is in itself noble; that is why the artist has no fear of what is common. This, indeed, is already ennobled when he takes it up.

A rainbow which lasts for a quarter of an hour is looked at no longer.

Great possessions and great want of them are both strong temptations.

The summit charms us, the steps to it do not; with the heights before our eyes, we like to linger in the plain. It is only a part of art that can be taught; but the artist needs the whole. He who is only half instructed speaks much and is always wrong; who knows it wholly is content with acting and speaks seldom or late.

It is natural to man to regard himself as the final cause of creation.