The conscience of an artist worthy of the name is like an incurable disease which causes him endless torment but occasionally fills him with silent joy.

A tree against the sky possesses the same interest, the same character, the same expression as the figure of a human.

For me, painting is a way to forget life. It is a cry in the night, a strangled laugh.

My only objective is to paint a Christ so moving that those who see him will be converted.

Subjective artists are one-eyed, but objective artists are blind.

The artist discards all theories, both his own and those of others. He forgets everything when he is in front of his canvas.

I am a believer and a conformist. Anyone can revolt; it is much more difficult to obey our inner promptings.

The richness of the world, all artificial pleasures, have the taste of sickness and give off a smell of death in the face of certain spiritual possessions.

Nothing is old, nothing is new, save the light of grace underneath which beats a human heart.

I am a believer and a conformist.

Anyone can revolt. It is more difficult silently to obey our own inner promptings, and to spend our lives finding sincere and fitting means of expression for our temperament and our gifts.

For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.' 1 Kings 17:14

Fuel your life with passion.

There is no man that imparteth his joys to his friends but he joyeth the more and no man that imparteth his griefs to his friends but he grieveth the less.

There are no plans that always work in life. For me, the secret to happiness is being positive and looking at the brighter side of my life.

The resilience of these people is amazing. I am a great believer that the sooner we get things up and running in terms of sport in this area, the better.

Beethoven had a great look. It was very much about the drama of appearance.

Whatever you do, do it completely. Don't do it half-arsed. Do it more than anybody else would.

I hope I'm still shooting when I'm 80.

Like most writers I know, I love being on stage. I’ve sublimated the dramatic urge by teaching and by making people laugh.

Religion, you know, enters very deep; in reality it is the deepest impression I have in speaking to people, that they are or that they are not of my religion.