Art quotes
22.1K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
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Browse quotes that often appear alongside art — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
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"It's not like I think my art is inspirations from icons strung together. They're just sort of people who others talk about. I am definitely interested in the masters of different genres, they're talented and popular for a reason."
"It is the duty of the younger Negro artist . . . to change through the force of his art that old whispering "I want to be white," hidden in the aspirations of his people, to "Why should I want to be white? I am a Negro - and beautiful!""
"The greatest teacher has nothing to say. He simply gives himself in service, and never worries."
"Art is the human process that produces by the way (it is not its only or ultimate object) Secondary Belief."
"Fantasy (in this sense) is, I think, not a lower but a higher form of Art, indeed the most nearly pure form, and so (when achieved) the most potent."
"And its object is Art not power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous re-forming of Creation."
"I don't feel that rap has been respected as an art form. Because people have seen rappers rap off the top of their heads, they don't think it is difficult."
"Run DMC brought us out of that underground-only feel. They brought rap above ground and made it respectable as an art form to mainstream music."
"I always knew that I had to direct. That was something I'd wanted to do. Finally, I was just looking at the situation and I said, "I wanna document hip-hop, as an art form, seeing how a lot of people don't take it seriously.""
"I find inspiration in everything from a piece of art to the hem of a dress."
"I'm moved by us, our quirks and mistakes. I find inspiration in everything from a piece of art to the hem of a dress. I'm one of those people who sees Frank Zappa in a cup of coffee, or elephants wrestling in clouds. But also, conscious creation of all kinds moves me. And a divinely expressed performance in any genre sets me completely on fire."
"They seemed to forget that the increase of known truths stimulates the investigation, establishment and growth of the arts; not their dimination or destruction."
"Your work speaks for you. Your art defines you."
"I see all art as a complement to telling people's stories. I'm in the storytelling business. I believe that the humanity that all of us share is the stories of our lives, and everybody has a story. Your story is as important as the next person's story."
"Many great authors of the 19th century wrote under conditions of strict censorship. The great thing about the art of writing a novel, is that you can write about anything. All you have to say is that it's fiction."
"I don't take art as seriously as politics."
"If I want to pursue the art of painting - or music or writing or sculpture - it requires only my time and a few dollars for materials. If, however, I want to produce a motion picture I have to go out and raise a million dollars!"
"Why spend 18 hours watching someone else's war, when you know how it comes out? We win, and then have to buy all their cars."
"A movie studio is the best toy a boy ever had."
"I had danced when I was younger, until I was about 12, and I always idealized it, as most young girls do, as the most beautiful art. It's an expression without words."
