Avoid the precepts of those thinkers whose reasoning is not confirmed by experience.

To me it seems that those sciences are vain and full of error which are not born of experience, mother of all certainty, first-hand experience which in its origins, or means, or end has passed through one of the five senses.

I have offended God and mankind because my work didn't reach the quality it should have.

Man has much power of discourse which for the most part is vain and false; animals have but little, but it is useful and true, and a small truth is better than a great lie.

Good culture is born of a good disposition; and since the cause is more to be praised than the effect, I will rather praise a good disposition without culture, than good culture without the disposition.

A good painter is to paint two main things, men and the working of man's mind.

Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master.