“On the other hand it is probably safe to assume that Rembrandt and Spinoza surely would have at least passed on the street, now and again.Or even run into each other quite frequently, if only at some neighborhood shop or other.And certainly they would have exchanged amenities as well, after a time.Good morning, Rembrandt. Good morning to you, Spinoza.I was extremely sorry to hear about your bankruptcy, Rembrandt. I was extremely sorry to hear about your excommunication, Spinoza.Do have a good day, Rembrandt. Do have the same, Spinoza.All of this would have been said in Dutch, incidentally.I mention that simply because it is known that Rembrandt did not speak any other language except Dutch.Even if Spinoza may have preferred Latin. Or Jewish.”

“I once heard about some millionaire who had a stolen Rembrandt in his basement where no one but him could see it. I could understand that guy. I don't mean that Arnie was a Rembrandt, or even a world-class wit, but I could understand the attraction of knowing about something good ... something that was good but still a secret.”

“I inherited a painting and a violin which turned out to be a Rembrandt and a Stradivarius. Unfortunately, Rembrandt made lousy violins and Stradivarius was a terrible painter.”

“If forced to choose, Giacometti once said, he would rescue a cat from a burning building before a Rembrandt.”

“One day the last portrait of Rembrandt and the last bar of Mozart will have ceased to be — though possibly a colored canvas and a sheet of notes will remain — because the last eye and the last ear accessible to their message will have gone.”

“If all of the steps of surrender are present, then a great Rembrandt or Monet will evoke love because the artist is simply there in all his naked humanity.”