Literature and Words

A poet knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Thirst will parch your tongue and your body will waste through lack of sleep ere you can describe in words that which painting instantly sets before the eye.

All knowledge which ends in words will die as quickly as it came to life, with the exception of the written word: which is its mechanical part.

Poetry is superior to painting in the presentation of words, and painting is superior to poetry in the presentation of facts. For this reason I judge painting to be superior to poetry.

Feathers shall raise men even as they do birds towards heaven : That is by letters written with their quills.

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.