The Cubists used the figure, but they broke it up.

Sitting on the floor of a room in Japan, looking out on a small garden with flowers blooming and dragonflies hovering in space, I suddenly felt as if I had been too long above my boots.

On pavements and the bark of trees I have found whole worlds.

I believe that painting should come through the avenues of meditation rather than the canals of action.

The search for an equilibrium is essential for the artist, to be as aware of inner space as he is of outer space.

I am accused often of too much experimentation.., but what else should I do when all other factors of man are in the same condition. I thrust forward into space as science and the rest do.

An artist must find his expression closely linked to his individual experience or else follow in the old grooves resulting in lifeless forms.

We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water would soften our ego; the world needs a common conscience: agreement... we must concentrate outside ourselves.

At a time when experimentation expresses itself in all forms of life, search becomes the only valid expression of the spirit.

According to one critic, my works looked like scraped billboards. I went to look at the billboards and decided that more billboards should be scraped.

We look at the mountain to see the painting, then we look at the painting to see the mountain.

I used to believe my art had to be about the things that brought me joy and gave me hope. But I learned that art can be found in all of life, even in pain. --Valentine, while in Italy (pg 267)

I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

I often ponder....Isn't 'Light, Grey & Dark' similar to 'I, Me & Myself' ?

Spirit of Beauty, whose sweet impulses, flung like rose of dawn across the sea, alone can flush the exalted consciousness with shafts of sensible divinity-light of the world, essential loveliness.

Don't scrutinize people with a microscope; view them from a comfortable distance. And allow some room for compassion in the space the lies between you.

I don't like to hurt people, I really don't like it at all. But in order to get a red light at the intersection, you sometimes have to have an accident.

I try to impress upon my students the importance of looking, listening... paying attention, in other words. You must pay attention.

Oh, wandering One, if you are in search of the greatest treasure, don't look outside. Look within, and seek That.

I respect a woman too much to marry her.

Two may keep counsel putting one away!