Nature varies the seed according to the variety of the things she desires to produce in the world.

I abhor the supreme folly of those who blame the disciples of nature in defiance of those masters who were themselves her pupils

Fame alone raises herself to Heaven, because virtuous things are in favour with God.

Never make heads straight on the shoulders, but turn them aside to the right or to the left, even though they look down, or upward, or straight ahead, because it is necessary for them to look lively and awake and not asleep. And do not depict the front or rear half of the whole person so that too much straightness is displaced, one half above or below the other half; and if you should wish to use stiff figures, do so only in portraying old people.

Those who, in debate, appeal to their qualifications, argue from memory, not from understanding.

It reflects no great honor on a painter to be able to execute only one thing well -- such as a head, an academy figure, or draperies, animals, landscapes, or the like -- in other words, confining himself to some particular object of study. This is so because there is scarcely a person so devoid of genius as to fail of success if he applies himself earnestly to one branch of study and practices it continually.

Ask counsel of him who rules himself well.