“In the afternoon the digestion of the meal deprives me of the incomparable lightness which characterizes the fast days.”

“It’s too bad if a heart lacks fire,and is deprived of the light of a heart ablaze.The day on which you arewithout passionate loveis the most wasted day of your life.”

“. . .fasting gives me singularly happy afternoons.”

“A hearty meal is easier to digest than one that is too small.”

“I ate and drank slowly as one should (cook fast, eat slowly) and without distractions such as (thank heavens) conversation or reading. Indeed eating is so pleasant one should even try to suppress thought. Of course reading and thinking are important but, my God, food is important too. How fortunate we are to be food-consuming animals. Every meal should be a treat and one ought to bless every day which brings with it a good digestion and the precious gift of hunger.”

“Claude Monet was the incomparable painter of bright daylight...Monet was the painter of light.”