The Painter who seeks popularity in Art closes the door upon his own genius.

The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself.

Distinction is the consequence, never the object of a great mind.

The greatest of all fools is the proud fool--who is at the mercy of every fool he meets.

Never expect justice from a vain man; if he has the negative magnanimity not to disparage you, it is the most you can expect.

Never judge a work of art by its defects.

Desert being the essential condition of praise, there can be no reality in the one without the other.

Reputation is but a synonym of popularity: dependent on suffrage, to be increased or diminished at the will of the voters.

Selfishness in art, as in other things, is sensibility kept at home.

No man knows himself as an original.

The most common disguise of Envy is in praise of what is subordinate.

Leaders don’t give excessive vocal orders. They humbly involve people and together cooperate with them to make a change happen.

Most of the mess that is called history comes about because kings and presidents cannot be satisfied with a nice chicken and a good loaf of bread.

He nodded and leaned down to kiss me. I let him, Dad be damned.

Friendship is an art and very few persons are born with a natural gift for it.

Imagine if you had access to data that allowed you to rank on a scale of overall happiness which people in your life made you the happiest. … Would you make more time for those people?

There is soul music, soul food, and soul love.

Fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

I don't want the 5 dollars in your pocket, I want your soul

There were two free public libraries within walking distance of my home; I remember taking six books home from every visit, the limit set by the library.