"I would rather die of passion than of boredom."

"Occasionally, in times of worry, I've longed to be stylish, but on second thought I say no—just let me be myself—and express rough, yet true things with rough workmanship."

"I want to do figures, figures and more figures, it's stronger than me, this series of bipeds from the baby to Socrates and from the black-haired woman with white skin to the woman with yellow hair and…"

"I'm doing my very best to put all my energy into it, for I long so much to make beautiful things. But beautiful things require effort — and disappointment and perseverance."

"To the best of my knowledge, those words mean 'I seek, I pursue, my heart is in it.'"