My paintings are not about what is seen. They are about what is known forever in the mind.

Doing what you were born to do … That's the way to be happy.

Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.

When I think of art I think of beauty. Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye it is in the mind. In our minds there is awareness of perfection.

Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye, it is in the mind.

When you look in your mind you find it covered with a lot of rubbishy thoughts. You have to penetrate these and hear what your mind is telling you to do. Such work is original work.

It's through discipline and tremendous disappointment and failure that you arrive at what it is you must paint.

I'm very careful not to have ideas, because they're inaccurate.

Inspiration is there all the time. For everyone whose mind is not clouded over with thoughts whether they realize it or not.

That which takes us by surprise-moments of happiness-that is inspiration.

I often paint tranquility. If you stop thinking and rest, then a little happiness comes into your mind. At perfect rest you are comfortable.

A word of encouragement goes a long way.

Amin, you’re not making sense to me. Things have always been this way, since the beginning of time. Some die so others can be saved. You don’t believe in the salvation of others?

It took great courage to ask a beautiful young woman to marry me. Believe me, it is easier to play the whole Petrushka on the piano.

There is one thing one has to have either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.

There is no morally coherent difference between fur and other animal clothing, such as leather, wool, etc., just as there is no morally coherent distinction between meat and milk or eggs.

[T]he cold warms me—after a different fashion from that of the kitchen stove.

I remain attached to my nation.

The film business has so many twists and turns that its a miracle any film gets made.

The curse of modern times is the propensity of male hormones in places where they can do the most damage