Nothing more inelegant and ineffective than an art conceived in another art's form.

Empty the pond to get the fish.

The most ordinary word, when put into place, suddenly acquires brilliance. That is the brilliance with which your images must shine.

The things one can express with the hand, with the head, with the shoulders!... How many useless and encumbering words then disappear! What economy!

Ideally, nothing should be shown, but that’s impossible.

When a sound can replace an image, cut the image or neutralize it. The ear goes more towards the within, the eye towards the outer.

The ear is profound, whereas the eye is frivolous, too easily satisfied. The ear is active, imaginative, whereas the eye is passive. When you hear a noise at night, instantly you imagine its cause. The sound of a train whistle conjures up the whole station. The eye can perceive only what is presented to it.