No one is competing with me and I am not trying to compete with anyone, I am looking for excellence and uniqueness in my work.

If I have nothing to sacrifice, I have nothing to gain.

The things we counterfeit are not worth the trouble of falling into disgrace with ourselves.

[I] pride myself on the fact that my work has no socially redeeming value.

I say no wealth is worth my life.

My experience is that one's pleasures don't bear thinking about.

I have never cared very much for personal prizes. A person does not become a freedom fighter in the hope of winning awards.

"Well, I don't have much competition here."
"You don't have much competition anywhere."

I have nothing to declare except my genius.

N'envions point à une sorte de gens leurs grandes richesses; ils les ont à titre onéreux, et qui ne nous accommoderait point: ils ont mis leur repos, leur santé, leur honneur et leur conscience pour les avoir; cela est trop cher, et il n'y a rien à gagner à un tel marché.

I can't be bought. I don't need to be bought. I'm not a careerist. I don't need to have a career in politics. I'm in a very, very luxurious position, but I am in a position of strength. I think I have been selected by Cameron, within the context of that understanding.

"I am not in the position to sacrifice the essentials of life in the hope of acquiring the luxuries." -Pushkin

With no loss or sacrifice, we can't appreciate what we have.

Economy in pleasure is not to my taste.