"Our religion is itself profoundly sad - a religion of universal anguish, and one which, because of its very catholicity, grants full liberty to the individual and asks no better than to be celebrated in each man's own language - so long as he knows anguish and is a painter."

"Nature... is nothing but the inner voice of self-interest."

"Any healthy man can go without food for two days - but not without poetry."

"Who would dare assign to art the sterile function of imitating nature?"

"When ambition meets humility, we find that the essence of humanity is our ability to connect."

"It is a quiet truth that the distance between ambition and reality is bridged solely by consistent effort."

"When ambition meets humility, we find that a single moment of clarity can change a lifetime."

"There's a drive in me that won't allow me to do certain things that are easy."