A bird maintains itself in the air by imperceptible balancing, when near to the mountains or lofty ocean crags; it does this by means of the curves of the winds which as they strike against these projections, being forced to preserve their first impetus bend their straight course towards the sky with divers revolutions, at the beginning of which the birds come to a stop with their wings open, receiving underneath themselves the continual buffetings of the reflex courses of the winds.

Nothing can be loved or hated unless it is first known.

The good painter must paint two things: a person and the essence of his soul.

The body of the earth is of the nature of a fish... because it draws water as its breath instead of air.

Even the richest soil, if left uncultivated will produce the rankest weeds.

The organ of perception acts more readily than judgment.

Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.