Reading a biography about the artist Modigliani written by Jeffery Meyers. A quote from Amedeo Modigilani from a letter he wrote to a friend.
"People like us (artists) have different rights, different values than do normal,ordinary people because we have different needs which put us--- above their moral standards. Your duty is never to waste yourself in sacrifice. Your real duty is to save your dream. Beauty herself makes painful demands; but these nevertheless bring forth the most supreme efforts of the soul. Every obstacle we overcome means an increase in will-power and provides the vital and progressive renewal of our inspiration."