The painter... does not fit the paints to the world. He most certainly does not fit the world to himself. He fits himself to the paint. The self is the servant who bears the paintbox and its inherited contents.

Quote by Annie Dillard

Topics: Annie Dillard Quotes

I think the dying pray at the last not please but thank you as a...

I think the dying pray at the last not please but thank you as a...

The writer studies literature, not the world. He is careful of what he reads, for...

The writer studies literature, not the world. He is careful of what he reads, for...

Every book has an intrinsic impossibility, which its writer discovers as soon as his first...

Every book has an intrinsic impossibility, which its writer discovers as soon as his first...

A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It...

A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It...

There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind.

There is a muscular energy in sunlight corresponding to the spiritual energy of wind.

As soon as beauty is sought not from religion and love, but for pleasure, it...

As soon as beauty is sought not from religion and love, but for pleasure, it...

You can't test courage cautiously.

You can't test courage cautiously.

Your work is to keep cranking the flywheel that turns the gears that spin the...

Your work is to keep cranking the flywheel that turns the gears that spin the...

The surest sign of age is loneliness.

The surest sign of age is loneliness.

Every book has an intrinsic impossibility, which its writer discovers as soon as his first...

Every book has an intrinsic impossibility, which its writer discovers as soon as his first...

Eskimo: If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?...

Eskimo: If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?...

Aim for the chopping block. If you aim for the wood, you will have nothing....

Aim for the chopping block. If you aim for the wood, you will have nothing....

An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: If I did not know about God...

An Inuit hunter asked the local missionary priest: If I did not know about God...

As a life's work, I would remember everything - everything, against loss. I would go...

As a life's work, I would remember everything - everything, against loss. I would go...

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.

Crystals grew inside rock like arithmetic flowers. They lengthened and spread, added plane to plane...

Crystals grew inside rock like arithmetic flowers. They lengthened and spread, added plane to plane...

The dedicated life is worth living. You must give with your whole heart.

The dedicated life is worth living. You must give with your whole heart.

Appealing workplaces are to be avoided. One wants a room with no view, so imagination...

Appealing workplaces are to be avoided. One wants a room with no view, so imagination...

Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you.

Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you.

There is a certain age at which a child looks at you in all earnestness...

There is a certain age at which a child looks at you in all earnestness...