The first of all simple colours is White ... We shall set down White for the representative of light, without which no colour can be seen; Yellow for the earth; Green for water; Blue for air; Red for fire; and Black for total darkness.

He who has access to the fountain does not go to the water-pot.

For those colours which you wish to be beautiful, always first prepare a pure white ground.

Fire is to represent truth because it destroys all sophistry and lies; and the mask is for lying and falsehood which conceal truth.

The mind that engages in subjects of too great variety becomes confused and weakened.

Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.

The part always has a tendency to reunite with its whole in order to escape from its imperfection.