"The mission of art is to represent nature not to imitate her." — William Morris Hunt

Most of us live for the critic, and he lives on us. He doesn't sacrifice himself. He gets so much a line for writing a criticism. If the birds should read the newspapers, they would all take to changing their notes. The parrots would exchange with the nightingales, and what a farce it would be!

How are things visible? Can you see an egg against a white background? Not by drawing a line around it can you make it evident.

Nature is economical. She puts her lights and darks only where she needs them.

When an artist leaves his work to amuse people, he loses his time and their respect. If people are to be amused by artists, it must be by employing them in their legitimate occupation.