Émile Zola

"The fate of animals is of far greater importance to me than the fear of appearing ridiculous."

"The thought is a deed. Of all deeds she fertilizes the world most."

"... Have you ever reflected that posterity may not be the faultless dispenser of justice that we dream of? One consoles oneself for being insulted and denied, by reyling on the equity of the centuries to come; just as the faithful endure all the abominations of this earth in the firm belief of another life, in which each will be rewarded according to his deserts. But suppose Paradise exists no more for the artist than it does for the Catholic, suppose that future generations prolong the misunderstanding and prefer amiable little trifles to vigorous works! Ah! What a sell it would be, eh? To have led a convict's life - to have screwed oneself down to one's work - all for a mere delusion!..."Bah! What does it matter? Well, there's nothing hereafter. We are even madder than the fools who kill themselves for a woman. When the earth splits to pieces in space like a dry walnut, our works won't add one atom to its dust."

"Art is a corner of creation seen through a temperament."

"The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work."

"Civilization will not attain to its perfection until the last stone from the last church falls on the last priest."

"If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud."