One painter ought never to imitate the manner of any other; because in that case he cannot be called the child of nature, but the grandchild. It is always best to have recourse to nature, which is replete with such abundance of objects, than to the productions of other masters, who learnt everything from her.

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

The earth is moved from its position by the weight of a tiny bird resting upon it.

How painting surpasses all human works by reason of the subtle possibilities which it contains.

He who does not understand the supreme certainty of mathematics is wallowing in confusion.

Our body is dependent on heaven and heaven on the Spirit.

O Time! consumer of all things; O envious age! thou dost destroy all things and devour all things with the relentless teeth of years, little by little in a slow death. Helen, when she looked in her mirror, seeing the withered wrinkles made in her face by old age, wept and wondered why she had twice been carried away.