I hope to live all my life for my art, without abandoning my principles one iota, without . . . having painted as much as you can cover with your hand, to please somebody or in order to sell the picture more easily. Gustave Courbet More Quotes by Gustave Courbet More Quotes From Gustave Courbet I have never seen an angel. Show me an angel, and I'll paint one. Gustave Courbet show-me paint angel I hope always to earn my living by my art without having ever deviated by even a hair's breadth from my principles... to please anyone or to sell more easily. Gustave Courbet principles hair art The state is not competent in artistic matters... When the state leaves us free, it will have carried out its duty. Gustave Courbet artistic freedom matter The expression of beauty is in direct ratio to the power of conception the artist has acquired. Gustave Courbet ratios artist expression France is the only nation in which astoundingly small numbers of civilized patrons reside. Gustave Courbet small-numbers france artist I hope to live all my life for my art, without abandoning my principles one iota. Gustave Courbet principles artist art Without trying to clear up the degree of correctness of a qualification which no one, one must hope, will be asked to understand exactly, I will limit myself to a few words of explanation to cut short any misunderstandings. Gustave Courbet cutting limits trying Titles have never given a just idea of things; were it otherwise, the work would be superfluous. Gustave Courbet titles would-be ideas Beauty, like truth, is relative to the time when one lives and to the individual who can grasp it. The expression of beauty is in direct ratio to the power of conception the artist has acquired. Gustave Courbet power truth time beauty When we see men of worth, we should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inward and examine ourselves. Gustave Courbet see think character men