An artist does his most difficult work when he steps back from the blank canvas and thinks about what he is going to create.

The goods of Fortune, even such as they really are, still need taste to enjoy them. It is the enjoying no the possessing, that makes us happy.

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.

The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.

Gazing on beautiful things acts on my soul.

Even if you are divine, you don't disdain male consorts.

I have never felt salvation in nature. I love cities above all.