There’s a difference between solitude and loneliness. I can understand the concept of being a monk for a while.

I turned into a monk when my mother went to learn Buddhism in Burma. While she learnt at the monastery, I used to roam around with a begging bowl and ask for food.

The probable fact is that we are descended not only from monkeys but from monks.

My mother said to me, if you are a soldier, you will became a general. If you are a monk will become the Pope. Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso.

When I was a child my mother said to me, ‘If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general. If you become a monk, you’ll be the pope.’ Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.

Habit maketh no monk, ne wearing of gilt spurs maketh no knight.