The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who have tattoos, and those who are afraid of people with tattoos. – Author Unknown

Your necklace may break, the fau tree may burst, but my tattooing is indestructible. It is an everlasting gem that you will take into your grave. – Verse from a traditional tattoo artist’s song, as quoted on pbs.org, “Skin

You may lose your most valuable property through misfortune in various ways. You may lose your house, your wife and other treasures. But of your moko, you cannot be deprived except by death. It will be your ornament and companion until your last day. – Netana Whakaari of Waimana

Inking without a plan gives Booth freedom to explore the desires of those seated in his chair, he says, to feed off their energy, allowing his clients’ demons to help guide the needle. – Joshua Lipton, about tattoo artist Paul Booth, “Bad Skin,” Rolling Stone, 2002 M