I lived for art, I lived for love

Inspiration is an awakening, a quickening of all man's faculties, and it is manifested in all high artistic achievements.

The music of this opera (Madame Butterfly) was dictated to me by God. I was merely instrumental in getting it on paper and communicating it to the public.

Art is a kind of illness.

The work comes into the world at an undetermined hour, from a still unknown, but it comes inevitably.

See, the night doth enfold us! See, all the world lies sleeping!

I'm working, but there is so much still to be done! And it frightens me to think of my weight of years. But on we go, without fear or hesitation!

Cold calculation, random spots of color, mathematically exact construction (clearly shown or concealed), drawing that is now silent and now strident . . . . Is this not form?

When I got married, the Sun ran the headline: 'Here comes the bride, all fat and wide.' Luckily, it was a few days after the wedding - but it was still hideous to read at a great romantic moment.

I wonder what it means when your grandson is more crotchety than you are.

When a literary person's exhaustive work is over, the last thing he wishes to do is to talk books.

... it is seldom a medical man has true religious views--there is too much pride of intellect.

I think this land may bee profitable to those that will adventure it.

To the west, the Pacific Ocean, which revulses me, for its vastness cannot be fitted into any box.

I am the dream and the hope of the slave

Not to intermarry racially is bad for the survival of the country.

The thing that cowardice fears most is decision

Islam is a religion of justice and dignity, and we are taught to never keep silent when facing injustice, discrimination and double standards.