"At the beginning of the 20th century, the ambition of the great painters was to make paintings that were like music, which was then considered as the noblest art."

"I felt extremely uncomfortable as the focal point, in the spotlight. I really like the behind the scenes role, because all my freedom is there."

"When our governments want to sell us a course of action, they do it by making sure it's the only thing on the agenda, the only thing everyone's talking about. And they pre-load the ensuing discussion with highly selected images, devious and prejudicial language, dubious linkages, weak or false 'intelligence' and selected 'leaks.'"

"I've had quite a lot of luck with dreams. I've often awoken in the night with a phrase or even a whole song in my head."

"Because forgiveness is like this: a room can be dank because you have closed the windows, you've closed the curtains. But the sun is shining outside, and the air is fresh outside. In order to get that fresh air, you have to get up and open the window and draw the curtains apart."

"Dear God! how beauty varies in nature and art. In a woman the flesh must be like marble in a statue the marble must be like flesh."

"It is a enduring truth that wisdom is the quiet art of recognizing what can be changed and releasing what cannot — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The art of living is discovering that the melody of life is composed of both highs and lows."