All this hurrying soon will be over. Only when we tarry do we touch the holy.

Resolve to be always beginning-to be a beginner!

Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly to himself, all his progress should enter so swiftly into the work that he is unable to recognize them in the moment of transition. Alas, the artist who waits in ambush there, watching, detaining them, will find them transformed like the beautiful gold in the fairy tale which cannot remain gold because some small detail was not taken care of.

It is always what I have already said: always the wish that you may find patience enough in yourself to endure, and simplicity enough to believe; that you may acquire more and more confidence in that which is difficult, and in your solitude among others. And for the rest, let life happen to you. Believe me: life is right, in any case.

Be ahead of all farewells as if they were behind you, like the winter that is just departing.

Love and death are the great gifts that are given to us; mostly they are passed on unopened.

I could give you no advice but this: to go into yourself and to explore the depths where your life wells forth.