Emile Zola

There are two men inside the artist, the poet and the craftsman. One is born a poet. One becomes a craftsman.

Emile Zola (Letter to Paul Cézanne, 1860)

Don't go looking at me like that because you'll wear your eyes out.

Emile Zola (Les Rougon-Macquart - La Bête humaine, 1890)

Smut detected in it by moral men is theirs rather than mine. Scientific truth was my touchstone for every scene, even the most febrile.

Emile Zola (Thérèse Raquin - Preface to 2nd Edition, 1868)