Heaven-born, the soul a heavenward course must hold; beyond the world she soars; the wise man, I affirm, can find no rest in that which perishes, nor will he lend his heart to ought that doth time depend

No one has mastery, Before he is at the end, Of his art and his life.

Beauty depends on purpose. It is in the elements best suited to their purpose or aim that beauty shines forth most strongly.

The great tragedy of life is not that people set their sights too high and fail to achieve their goals but that they set their sights too low and do.

Let it be enough for you to have bread and live virtuously and poorly like Christ, as I do here. I live meanly and don't bother about life or honor ... and I live with the greatest toil and a thousand worries. It is now about 15 years since I had a happy hour.

I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.

Patience is eternal genius