“Think with awe on the slow and quiet power of time.”

Full of wisdom are the ordinations of fate.

O the eye’s light is a noble gift of Heaven! All beings live from light, each fair created thing; the very plants turn with a joyful transport to the light.

Yes great people are always subject to persecution and always getting into straits.

If you cannot please everyone with your deeds and your art, please a few. To please many is bad.

Youth covets; let not this covetousness seduce you.

Cowards have done good and kind actions, but a coward never pardoned.

Man is an imitative creature.

A noble heart will always capitulate to reason.

As soon as I have begun to fear I have ceased to fear.

Who dares nothing, need hope for nothing.

If you wish to know yourself observe how others act. If you wish to understand others look into your own heart.

Why should I deem myself to be a chisel, when I could be the artist?

I feel that I am a man of destiny.

There are evil spirits who suddenly fix their abode in man’s unguarded breast, causing us to commit devilish deeds, and then, hurrying back to their native hell, leave behind the stings of remorse in the poisoned bosom.

Pain is short, and joy is eternal.

Art is the right hand of Nature. The latter has only given us being, the former has made us men.