Lord Grant That I May Always

This prayer-like aspiration is widely attributed to Michelangelo but has not been traced to a specific letter, poem, or recorded conversation. No primary source — including Vasari's Lives, Ascanio Condivi's biography written under Michelangelo's supervision, or his own extensive correspondence — has been identified as its origin. The sentiment is deeply consistent with the restlessness documented throughout his life: even at age 88, just days before his death in 1564, he was still working on the Rondanini Pietà. The quote's spirit is genuine even if its provenance cannot be verified.