God made everything out of nothing. But the nothingness shows through.

The history of thought may be summed up in these words: it is absurd by what it seeks and great by what it finds.

We must always apologize for talking painting.

If what has happened in the one person were communicated directly to the other, all art would collapse, all the effects of art would disappear.

Power without abuse loses its charm.

His heart is a desert island.... The whole scope, the whole energy of his mind surround and protect him; his depths isolate him and guard him against the truth. He flatters himself that he is entirely alone there.... Patience, dear lady. Perhaps, one day, he will discover some footprint on the sand.... What holy and happy terror, what salutary fright, once he recognizes in that pure sign of grace that his island is mysteriously inhabited!

The most ridiculous were those who, on their own authority, made themselves the judges and justices of the tribe. They seemed never to suspect that our judgments judge us, and that nothing exposes our weaknesses and reveals ourselves more naively than the attitude of pronouncing upon our neighbors.