An artist never really finishes his work, he merely abandons it.

The folly of mistaking a paradox for a discovery, a metaphor for a proof, a torrent of verbiage for a spring of capital truths, and oneself for an oracle, is inborn in us.

—Paul Valéry

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.

—Paul Valéry

That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.

—Paul Valéry

God made everything out of nothing, but the nothingness shows through.

—Paul Valéry

Love is being stupid together.

—Paul Valéry

If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly.

—William Shakespeare

Love's about finding the one person who makes your heart complete. Who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be.

—Julia Quinn in The Viscount Who Loved Me

A painting that is well composed is half finished.

—Pierre Bonnard

Step by step and the thing is done.

—Charles Atlas

A poem is never finished, only abandoned.

—Paul Valéry