Art Quotes

“It's important to debunk the myths of Africa being this benighted continent civilized only when white people arrived. In fact, Africans had been creators of culture for thousands of years before. These were very intelligent, subtle and sophisticated people, with organized societies and great art.”

-- Henry Louis Gates

“In fact, in many ways my mother was quite hippy-dippy, serving macrobiotic food and reading 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.'”

-- Kristin Scott Thomas

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

-- Edgar Degas

“Science is spectral analysis. Art is light synthesis.”

-- Karl Kraus

“What is art? Nature concentrated.”

-- Honore de Balzac

“I went into the business for the money, and the art grew out of it. If people are disillusioned by that remark, I can't help it. It's the truth.”

-- Charlie Chaplin

“I don't think there is such a thing as being too raunchy when it comes to the art form of burlesque.”

-- Christina Aguilera

“Great nations write their autobiographies in three manuscripts - the book of their deeds, the book of their words and the book of their art.”

-- John Ruskin

“Art is born of humiliation.”

-- W. H. Auden

“Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us many useful objects such as wickerwork picnic baskets. Imagination without skill gives us modern art.”

-- Tom Stoppard