When you are painting you should take a flat mirror and often look at your work within it, and it will then be seen in reverse, and will appear to be by the hand of some other master, and you will be better able to judge of its faults than in any other way.

Putting your hand into a river, you simultaneously touch the last of what is passing and the first of what is coming.

If you are alone you belong entirely to yourself. If you are accompanied by even one companion you belong only half to yourself or even less in proportion to the thoughtlessness of his conduct and if you have more than one companion you will fall more deeply into the same plight.

Art is the queen of all sciences communicating knowledge to all the generations of the world.

Happy will they be who lend ear to the words of the dead.

I love those who can smile in trouble.

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