Painting is like being a lawyer and attacking a corporation.

A lot of times maturing as an artist is just starting to do the things you like to do.

Your style is who you are when you’re not trying to be clever or better than you actually are.

I find I can't get rid of my trashiness as an artist. A lot of my themes in painting, to the extent that there are intentional themes, are meant to bring that conundrum into high relief.

I think a big problem with art school is that it makes people feel like they have to be interested in everything that's of high quality.

You have to like everything that you're painting. Maybe on a narrative level it seems harsh... but I like everything in all my paintings. It's as if you need to be less intelligent at that level.

There is no misery in art. All art is about saying yes, and all art is about its own making.

Culture is for old people. When you're young you have your body, and that's all you need.

I think what I do is find a cliché and try to believe in it, try to get to where I don't laugh at it.

Instead of last man standing, it'll be last man smiling.

It's a huge thing when people realize across the culture that paper money is paper. And that there's no fixed value - it's all political. That all value is set by a political authority, basically.

Ignorance is your opponent, fear is your enemy, vice is your adversary, virtue is your friend, and wisdom is your helper.

I’ve always looked like this—in between. Is there ever an age when a person looks exactly like themselves?

The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.

If civil society has nobody who protects the law, then what kind of society is that?

The goods of this world are most dear to me, but much dearer are peace of mind and my own honor.

You can just sweep the floor generally and gain nothing from it. Or you can figure out the best way to sweep the floor, put your power into it, use it as a concentration exercise, and be meditative.

The world has been busy for some centuries in shutting and locking every door through which a woman could step into wealth, except the door of marriage.

Why is a picture of something real eventually more exciting than the thing itself?

Anything that exists is possible.

I had stepped into his arms, showing him my raw, broken heart.