Michelangelo Quotes

Italy, Sculptor
March 6, 1475 – February, 18, 1564.

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni or more commonly known by his first name Michelangelo was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet of the High Renaissance born in the Republic of Florence, who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. Considered by many the greatest artist of his lifetime, and by some the greatest artist of all time, his artistic versatility was of such a high order that he is often considered a contender for the title of the archetypal Renaissance man, along with his rival, the fellow Florentine and client of the Medici, Leonardo da Vinci.

Also known as Painter, Architect, Poet

The promises of this world are, for the most part, vain phantoms; and to confide in one's self, and become something of worth and value is the best and safest course.

Michelangelo
- Value
- Course
- Promises
Good painting is the kind that looks like sculpture.

Michelangelo
- Painting
- Sculpture

I created a vision of David in my mind and simply carved away everything that was not David.

Michelangelo
- Vision
- Created
- David
Even if you are divine, you don't disdain male consorts.

Michelangelo
- Divine
- MAle
- Consorts
The power of one fair face makes my love sublime, for it has weaned my heart from low desires.

Michelangelo
- Desires
- Fair
- My Love
Genius is infinite painstaking.

Michelangelo
- Genius
- Painstaking
I dare affirm that any artist... who has nothing singular, eccentric, or at least reputed to be so, in his person, will never become a superior talent.

Michelangelo
- Artist
- Talent
- Affirm
Dear to me is sleep: still more, being made of stone, While pain and guilt still linger here below, Blindness and numbness--these please me alone; Then do not wake me, keep your voices low.

Michelangelo
- Pain
- Sleep
- Guilt

To touch is to give life.

Michelangelo
- Life
- Touch
Art is the gift of God, and must be used unto His glory. That in art is highest which aims at this.

Michelangelo
- God
- Gift
- Glory
Perchance that I might learn what pity is, That I might laugh at erring men no more.

Michelangelo
- Learn
- Laugh
- Erring
Love lent me wings; my path was like a stair; A lamp unto my feet, that sun was given; And death was safety and great joy to find; But dying now, I shall not climb to Heaven.

Michelangelo
- Love
- Joy
- Like
If you knew how much work went into it, you wouldn't call it genius.

Michelangelo
- Work
- Genius
- Knew
Nature did all things well.

Michelangelo
- Nature
- All Things

There is an angel imprisoned in it and I must set it free.

Michelangelo
- Free
- Angel
- Imprisoned
As you give out, so shall you receive.

Michelangelo
- Receive
- Give Out
It is well with me only when I have a chisel in my hand.

Michelangelo
- Hand
- Chisel
With few words I shall make thee understand my soul.

Michelangelo
- Words
- Understand
- My Soul
Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.

Michelangelo
Art is a jealous thing; it requires the whole and entire man.

Michelangelo
- Man
- Jealous
- Art Is

Do not be concerned that you might set a target too high and fail. Be concerned that you will set it too low and succeed.

Michelangelo
- Succeed
- Fail
- Target
No one has mastery, Before he is at the end, Of his art and his life.

Michelangelo
- Life
- Art
- Mastery
Beauty depends on purpose. It is in the elements best suited to their purpose or aim that beauty shines forth most strongly.

Michelangelo
- Purpose
- Beauty
- Aim
He who does not master the nude cannot understand the principles of architecture.

Michelangelo