“The painter must give a completely free rein to any feeling or sensations he may have and reject nothing to which he is naturally drawn.”

“Many and various are the things to which a man may feel himself drawn, but one thing there is to which no man ever felt himself drawn in any way, that is, to suffering and humiliation. This we men think we ought to shun as far as possible, and in any case that we must be compelled to it.”

“I'm completely aware of Matisse and what he said, that painters must begin by cutting out their tongues.”

“Man cannot cherish his existence any longer than life holds out charms to him: when he is wrought upon by painful sensations, or drawn by contrary impulsions, his natural tendency is deranged; he is under the necessity to follow a new route; this conducts him to his end, which it even displays to him as the most desirable good.”

“The complete irresponsibility of man for his actions and his nature is the bitterest drop which he who understands must swallow.”

“Darkness gives free rein to the mind's worst imaginings”