“As I grew up I was fervently desirous of becoming acquainted with Nature.”
“. . .nature indifferently copied is far superior to the best idealities.”
“But hopes are shy birds flying at a great distance, seldom reached by the best of guns.”
“The mercantile business did not suit me”
“I cannot help but think a curious event is this life of mine”
“Because my father was often absent on naval duty, my mother suffered me to do much as I pleased”
“How could I make a little book, when I have seen enough to make a dozen large books?”
“During all these years there existed within me a tendency to follow Nature in her walks.”
“I wish I had eight pairs of hands, and another body to shoot the specimens.”
“The worse my drawings were, the more beautiful did the originals appear.”
“To have been torn from the study would have been as death; my time was entirely occupied with art.”
“My heart swelled with uncontrollable delight.”
“If only the bird with the loveliest song sang, the forest would be a lonely place.”