Top 14 Quotes by James Whistler

The rare few, who, early in life have rid themselves of the friendship of the many.

It takes a long time for a man to look like his portrait.

Work alone will efface the footsteps of work.

To say of a picture, as is often said in its praise, that it shows great and earnest labour, is to say that it is incomplete and unfit for view.

An artist's career always begins tomorrow.

If other people are going to talk, conversation becomes impossible.

I maintain that two and two would continue to make four, in spite of the whine of the amateur for three, or the cry of the critic for five.

I am not arguing with you - I am telling you.

You shouldn't say it is not good. You should say, you do not like it; and then, you know, you're perfectly safe.

The vast majority of English folk cannot and will not consider a picture as a picture, apart from any story which it may be supposed to tell.