Art Quotes

Thus it is with a deaf and dumb person who, when he sees two men in conversation - although he is deprived of hearing - can nevertheless understand, from the attitudes and gestures of the speakers, the nature of their discussion.

A picture or representation of human figures, ought to be done in such a way as that the spectator may easily recognise, by means of their attitudes, the purpose in their minds. Thus, if you have to represent a man of noble character in the act of speaking, let his gestures be such as naturally accompany good words; and, in the same way, if you wish to depict a man of a brutal nature, give him fierce movements; as with his arms flung out towards the listener, and his head and breast thrust forward beyond his feet, as if following the speaker's hands.

Many are they who have a taste and love for drawing, but no talent; and this will be discernible in boys who are not diligent and never finish their drawings with shading.

The variety of colour in objects cannot be discerned at a great distance, excepting in those parts which are directly lighted up by the solar rays.

Shadow partakes of the nature of universal matter. All such matters are more powerful in their beginning and grow weaker towards the end, I say at the beginning, whatever their form or condition may be and whether visible or invisible. And it is not from small beginnings that they grow to a great size in time; as it might be a great oak which has a feeble beginning from a small acorn. Yet I may say that the oak is most powerful at its beginning, that is where it springs from the earth, which is where it is largest.

Beauty perishes in life, but is immortal in art.

Painting embraces and contains within itself all the things which nature produces or which results from the fortuitous actions of men... he is but a poor master who makes only a single figure well.

This ramification of the elm has the largest branch in front, and its smallest are the first and the penultimate when the chief branch is straight.

The great art of governing consists in not letting men grow old in their jobs.

If the art of war were nothing but the art of avoiding risks, glory would become the prey of mediocre minds.... I have made all the calculations; fate will do the rest.

The art of war consists in bringing to bear with an inferior army a superiority of force at the point at which one attacks or is attacked.

Make war offensively; it is the sole means to become a great captain and to fathom the secrets of the art.

Music, of all the liberal arts, has the greatest influence over the passions, and it is to that which the legislator ought to give the greatest encouragement.

In a battle, as in a siege, the art consists in concentrating very heavy fire on a particular point. The line of battle once established, the one who has the ability to concentrate an unlooked for mass of artillery suddenly and unexpectedly on one of these points is sure to carry the day.

The art of war consists in being always able, even with an inferior army, to have stronger forces than the enemy at the point of attack or the point which is attacked.

Strategy is the art of making use of time and space. I am less concerned about the later than the former. Space we can recover, lost time never.

The art of choosing men is not nearly so difficult as the art of enabling those chosen to attain their full worth.

Art is not a treasure in the past or an importation from another land, but part of the present life of all living and creating peoples.

Africa's rock art is the common heritage of all Africans, but it is more than that. It is the common heritage of humanity.

Artists reach areas far beyond the reach of politicians. Art, especially entertainment and music, is understood by everybody, and it lifts the spirits and the morale of those who hear it.