There is no such thing as an ugly woman.

Though I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, pure harmony and music inside me. I see paintings or drawings in the poorest cottages, in the dirtiest corners. And my mind is driven towards these things with an irresistible momentum.

I must continue to follow the path I take now. If I do nothing, if I study nothing, if I cease searching, then, woe is me, I am lost. That is how I look at it — keep going, keep going come what may. But what is your final goal, you may ask. That goal will become clearer, will emerge slowly but surely, much as the rough draught turns into a sketch, and the sketch into a painting through the serious work done on it, through the elaboration of the original vague idea and through the consolidation of the first fleeting and passing thought.

I use color in a completely arbitrary way in order to express myself powerfully.

Since visiting the abatoirs of S. France I have stopped eating meat.

Rembrandt is so deeply mysterious that he says things for which there are no words in any language.

As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.