The hardest part of art-making is living your life in such a way that your work gets done-over and over-and that means, among other things, finding a host of practices that are just plain useful.

Talent may get someone off the starting blocks faster, but without a sense of direction or a goal to strive for, it won't count for much

Art is like beginning a sentence before you know its ending.

The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece.

Even talent is rarely distinguishable, over the long run, from perseverance and lots of hard work.

To the artist, all problems of art appear uniquely personal. Well, that's understandable enough, given that not many other activities routinely call one's basic self-worth into question.

Uncertainty is the essential, inevitable and all-pervasive companion to your desire to make art

Something about making art has to do with overcoming things, giving us a clear opportunity for doing things in ways we have always known we should do them.

Lesson for the day: vision is always ahead of execution - and it should be.

Tolerance for uncertainty is the prerequisite to succeeding.

We have to construct communities of artists because they don't naturally exist in our culture.

The global financial crisis - missed by most analysts - shows that most forecasters are poor at pricing in economic/financial risks, let alone geopolitical ones.

I used to sing at funeral homes for families that didn't have a vocalist. I didn't get paid. I needed to sing.

She viewed ethnic cleansing, famine and genocide as direct threats to her furniture.

Invest in people who will take care of you when you're old.

On the pinnacle of success man does not stand firm long.

The greatness of the human being is not in the reincarnation of the world but in the reincarnation of ourselves.

The first-time director thing is just another label somebody puts on you.

Your fragility is also your strength.

Remember," he called. "Just be yourself, and everyone will love you!" Nick rolled his eyes and made a rude gesture, and Alan drove the car away laughing.