Tobin Bell Quotes

There can be no freedom in art and literature where the government determines who shall create them.

My lyrics aren't offensive. Some people find everything offensive.

The freedom of every artist is essential.

Performers have the right to say what they want to, and anyone paying money has the right to accept or reject the art and entertainment that's available.

Obviously I don't want to make a film that offends people, but the whole world is so politically correct - I'm not going to not do something because it may be politically incorrect. At some point, the metaphors and allegories break down. They disappear, and you just have science fiction.

Performance artists in a free society have the right to do the most extraordinary and bizarre things. That’s called ‘Freedom of Speech.’

We do not fear censorship for we have no wish to offend with improprieties or obscenities, but we do demand, as a right, the liberty to show the dark side of wrong, that we may illuminate the bright side of virtue—the same liberty that is conceded to the art of the written word, that art to which we owe the Bible and the works of Shakespeare.

You can't stop an artist from expressing his views through art.

I will always demand the right for theatre to talk about anything and anyone. Without exception. None.

Because I didn't think anyone would actually listen to my music, I thought I could say whatever I wanted.

Art is where we make a stand. If we don't make it there, freedom of expression is lost for everyone - for artists, for journalists, and for everyday people.

Art penetrates, no matter how many bans you put out.

Those of us who work in the arts know that depiction is not endorsement. If it was, no artist would be able to paint inhumane practices, no author could write about them, and no filmmaker could delve into the thorny subjects of our time.

An artist in my view is always afraid of extremists; he is always afraid of those who claim to have found the ultimate solution to any question.

Obscenity is a notable enhancer of life and is suppressed at grave peril to the arts.

Expression and the right to express is vital, anyone can be artistic.

I kind of think that artists throughout history, poets throughout history have been criticized for sharing what's on people's minds and I don't think it's any different now.

I don't agree with most forms of censorship, and I especially don't agree with the idea that one needs to be from the same cultural, ethnic, or religious background as the subjects they portray in order to be qualified to portray those subjects. I believe that compassion and empathy should cross all of those category barriers, and the conversations art creates can be inflammatory initially, but I think are most often constructive and healing in the long run.

Artists themselves are not confined, but their output is.

Freedom of speech is, to all Americans, as oxygen is to the human condition. It is a right that has been irreversibly programmed into our hard drive. We are free to speak our minds. An artist's right to express him or herself as best suits their art, is the artist's prerogative and it is guaranteed.

People have different interpretations of my work, and I like that flexibility and openness.

There shouldn't be any censorship on making a film.

If you don't like my movies, don't watch them.

Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?

As an artist I'd choose the thing that's beautiful more than the one that's true.