An idea is a point of departure and no more. As soon as you elaborate it, it becomes transformed by thought.

Inspiration exists, but you have to find it working.

We might adapt for the artist the joke about there being nothing more dangerous than instruments of war in the hands of generals. In the same way, there is nothing more dangerous than justice in the hands of judges, and a paint brush in the hands of a painter! Just think of the danger to society! But today we haven't the heart to expel the painters and poets because we no longer admit to ourselves that there is any danger in keeping them in our midst.

Whatever the source of emotion that drives me to create, I want to give it a form which has some connection with the visible world, even if it is only to wage war on that world....I want my paintings to be able to defend themselves to resist the invader, just as though there were razor blades on all surfaces so no one could touch them without cutting his hands.

It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.

If you are trying to find something, it means you haven't got it. And if you find it simply by looking for it, that means it's false.

When it comes right down to it, all you have is your self. Your Self is a sun with a thousand rays.