If you call painting dumb poetry, the painter may call poetry blind painting.

Men of lofty genius when they are doing the least work are most active.

When Fortune comes, seize her in front with a sure hand, because behind she is bald.

A bird is an instrument working according to mathematical law, which instrument it is within the capacity of man to reproduce with all its movements.

The eye is the window of the human body through which it feels its way and enjoys the beauty of the world.

Very great charm of shadow and light is to be found in the faces of those who sit in the doors of dark houses. The eye of the spectator sees that part of the face which is in shadow lost in the darkness of the house, and that part of the face which is lit draws its brilliancy from the splendour of the sky. From this intensification of light and shade the face gains greatly in relief and beauty by showing the subtlest shadows in the light part and the subtlest lights in the dark part.

In the days of thy youth seek to obtain that which shall compensate the losses of thy old age.