I am a poor man and of little worth, who is laboring in that art that God has given me in order to extend my life as long as possible.

If it be true that any beautiful thing raises the pure and just desire of man from earth to God, the eternal fount of all, such I believe my love.

In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.

Man, as we know him, is a poor creature; but he is halfway between an ape and a god and he is travelling in the right direction.

I feast on wine and bread, and feasts they are.

If we have been pleased with life, we should not be displeased with death, since it comes from the hand of the same master.