The desire to be primitive was very much a function of fin-de-siècle imperialism; it appealed to strong egos and domineering minds.

The greater the artist, the greater the doubt; perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.

A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop.

The greater the artist, the greater the doubt.

Confidence is the prize given to the mediocre

A Gustave Courbet portrait of a trout has more death in it than Rubens could get in a whole Crucifixion.

One gets tired of the role critics are supposed to have in this culture: It's like being the piano player in a whorehouse; you don't have any control over the action going on upstairs.

Why wait for a call when you have a command?

Political stress is always apt to shrink the private arena and attach it on to the public

Popular in our time, unpopular in his. So runs the stereotype of rejected genius.

It is the nature of carnivores to get power and then, having disposed of their enemies, to deploy the emollient powers of Great Art to make themselves look like herbivores.

Freedom does not come withterms and conditionsDon't let anyone eversell you that.

My popularity, my happiness and sense of worth depend to no small extent upon my skill in dealing with people.

Style is about the choices you make to create the aspects of civilization that you wish to uphold.

We're probably close to reaching 2,000 shows, which is more than Julia Child and Jacques Pepin together.

Those who, relying upon themselves only, not looking for assistance to anyone besides themselves, it is they who will reach the top-most height.

Happiness is your birthright. Live it!

History makes the point time and time again No greater mischief can be created than to merge the power of religion with the power of government.

Like most North Americans, I'd been raised on the notion that milk is the first food, and everybody must like it because it's so good and so important for growing up and for being healthy.

I have a dream, and a plan, to combine the commercial possibilities of Valentine's Day with the substance and meaning of black history month. I call it: Blackentine's Day.

Economic power is not the same as strength of national character. Our country may be rich in goods, but we are poor in spirit.