“True art was based upon despair, and the important thing was to make yourself and those around you as miserable as possible.”

“It's really important to do everything that you possibly can to stay true to yourself.”

“Whatever you make, base it upon that which is most important to you. Only then will it have depth and meaning, and only then will it resonate with others.”

“In the traditional Islamic world, the hierarchy of the arts was not based on whether they were "fine" or "industrial" or "minor". It was based upon the effect of art on the soul of the human being.”

“If you have a dream, you have a responsibility to yourself and to us to make it come true. That’s the most important thing in your life. Don’t let anything stand in its way.”

“Trying to cut corners and get around rules makes [anyone] miserable. When you‘make yourself mind yourself,’ when you know you are going to do what you sayyou will do, you will know joy.”