I came to the conclusion then that "continual mindfulness". . . must mean, not a sergeantmajor-like drilling of thoughts, but a continual readiness to accept whatever came.

I began to have an idea of my life, not as slow shaping of achievement to fit my preconceived purposes, but as the gradual discovery and growth of a purpose which I did not know.

There seemed to be endless obstacles - it seemed that the root cause of them all was fear.

I used to worry about what life was for - now being alive seems sufficient reason.

The aim of the painting is that the eye should find out what it likes.

Perhaps if one really knew when one was happy one would know the things that were necessary in one's life.

Colour is, on the evidence of language alone, very bound up with the feelings.

I want to draw and study a few things closely by feeling, not thinking.

Love is not getting, but giving. It is sacrifice. And sacrifice is glorious!

Sometimes I find that in my happy moments I could not believe that I had ever been miserable.

A birthday is a glorious day filled with good laughter, gladness and great memories.

People used to behave morally because they thought God was always watching - in some ways God today is the collective, and the collective is watching.

I must admit that I don't really understand social networking models that well, and I haven't tried to because I have just not been enthused about this whole thing.

There's also a down side.

It's emotional warfare telling the people we love, the most, the truth about ourselves.

I sleep - laying down, not on the ceiling. Nothing about my life is crazy. I fly a lot, I travel a lot. I eat and sleep like everyone else.

Perhaps Harvard's greatest contribution to our nation is its requirement that its on-leave professors who want to keep their crimson seats must return from Washington after 24 months.

Walk long enough and we all trade places.

My candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open.

When I land in a country and they ask for 'occupation,' I always just put 'artist.' I think that covers all of it.