All art is probably erotic in its ultimate character, but painting more than anything else is a purely nervous erotic activity.

Art, if it is successful in the task of questioning reality, if it is good painting and not merely a performance of dexterity, will be an affirmation of God.

I believe when you bring, say, a plant into a room, everything in that room changes in relation to it. This tension - tension is the only word for it - can be painted.

Life is more important than art - quantity is only important in that the amount of activity is greater not the number of works.

The development that produces great art is a moral and not an aesthetic development.

The painter celebrates life where he finds it. His morality is the morality of enjoyment, of the continuous development of his own taste without shame or fear. It is a sort of heroism.

Fear is the polio of the soul which prevents our walking by faith.

I am aware of being in a beautiful prison, from which I can only escape by writing.

Now, where had I heard drinking and brawling before? Oh right, Ashley’s father. Well, I wasn’t doing that again.

They say an old man is twice a child

The world's very small when you don't have anywhere to go.

Before you speak to me about your religion, first show it to me in how you treat other people. Before you tell me how much you love your God, show me in how much you love all His children.

Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.

If we spend all our time gazing at the wonders ahead without remembering where we're standing right now, we're going to trip and fall flat on our face, over and over again.

Though ye loue not to bye the pyg in the poke,Yet snatche ye at the poke, that the pyg is in,Not for the poke, but the pyg good chepe to wyn.

My working-class Italian-American parents didn't go to school, there were no books in the house.