Painting what I experience, translating what I feel, is a great liberation. But it is also work, self-examination, consciousness, criticism, struggle.

Painting is the passage from the chaos of the emotions to the order of the possible.

Painting is a language which cannot be replaced by another language. I don't know what to say about what I paint, really.

I always feel the desire to look for the extraordinary in ordinary things; to suggest, not to impose, to leave always a slight touch of mystery in my paintings.

Painting is a source of endless pleasure, but also of great anguish.

One must always draw, draw with the eyes, when one cannot draw with a pencil.

The craft of painting has virtually disappeared. There is hardly anyone left who really possesses it. For evidence one has only to look at the painters of this century.

If you speak of beauty, you are at once suspected of...kitsch.

The best way to begin is to say: 'Balthus is a painter of whom nothing is known. And now let us have a look at the paintings'.

I refuse to confide and don't like it when people write about art.

I had only planned to strike the gong violently in order to somehow shake people up and make them more aware. I think I succeeded.

The essence of wisdom is to know when to be doing, and when it's useless even to try

Wisdom mitigates the risk of being honest.

If you listen to music, dance daily and mediate, you have the best medicine for your mind, body and soul.

If political authority is not limited, the division of powers, ordinarily the guarantee of freedom, becomes a danger and a scourge.

I live a very quiet life, although I'm very urban and a diehard New Yorker

You should be a living practicing example of what you are preaching.

There are enough women to do the childbearing and the childrearing. I know of none who can write my books.

Sometimes I'll flip through a magazine and do a double take when I see myself in it, it's just crazy!

Listen, I must be 110 by now. Granny is going to kick the bucket at some point.

I'm sorry if my traumatized life is an inconvenience to you and your perfect existence.