Perseverance

“And when the devil hath seen that they have set so little by him, after certain essays, made in such times as he thought most fitting, he hath given that temptation quite over. And this he doth not only because the proud spirit cannot endure to be mocked, but also lest, with much tempting the man to the sin to which he could not in conclusion bring him, he should much increase his merit.”

“Grief must be shared to be endured.”

“No one saves us but ourselves, <br /> No one can and no one may. <br /> We ourselves must walk the path <br /> Buddhas merely teach the way. <br> By ourselves is evil done, <br /> By ourselves is pain endured, <br /> By ourselves we cease from wrong, <br /> By ourselves become we pure.”

“This Cézanne [a 'Still life with Compotier, Fruit and Glass', Cézanne made c. 1879-1882!!], that you ask me for is a pearl of exceptional quality and I already have refused three hundred francs for it; it is one of my most treasured possessions, and except in absolute necessity, I would give up my last shirt before the picture.”

“Nothing is more difficult than arriving at a court where nobody knows anyone in the world, add to that the Austrian Etiquette, and you can imagine what kind of evening I had to endure.”