William Goldman Quotes

We need writers who know the difference between the production of a commodity and the practice of an art.

Every good piece of art... involves first essentially the evidence of human skill, and the formation of an actually beautiful thing by it.

I decided on the spot that I would be an artist, and I assure you, it was no ordinary artist I had in mind.

I set my sights upon becoming the kind of artist who would make a contribution to art history.

I originally just wanted to be an artist.

I didn't have any real idea that I was going to be an artist; I had no idea what that meant.

For the essential thing about the work of art is that it is work, and very hard work too.

As to what I would like to be, it is difficult to say. An artist of some kind. If nothing else I shall always study the Arts.

This was my first encounter with art as art (he saw 'Pinky' painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence and 'The Blue Boy" painted by Thomas Gainborough).. ..somebody actually MADE those paintings.. ..(it) was the first time I realized you could be an artist.

The business of every art is to bring something into existence, and the practice of an art involves the study of how to bring into existence something which is capable of having such an existence and has its efficient cause in the maker and not in itself.

A work of art is not a matter of thinking beautiful thoughts or experiencing tender emotions , but of intelligence, skill, taste, proportion, knowledge, discipline and industry; especially discipline.

I was always an artist. I was a broker to earn a living, but I was always thinking about my art.

I remind myself Vincent van Gogh died without having sold a single painting. Like, art is not measured by the trappings that people attached to it. It's the thing itself, and so, as you know, it's been a dream of mine to write songs for Disney, and so, it's really exciting to finally hear. It's two and a half years.

Art is right reason in the doing of work.

The word 'art' interests me very much. If it comes from Sanskrit, as I've heard, it signifies 'making.

I sat day after day in my little room, waiting for inspiration to visit me, trying to invent a pseudonym that would express, in a combination of noble and striking sounds, our dream of artistic achievement, a pen name grand enough to compensate for my own feeling of insecurity and helplessness at the idea of everything my mother expected from me.

That's the motivation of an artist - to seek attention of some kind.

My father didn't think being an artist was a respectable or worthy goal for a man.

By the time I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I was a born draftsman and liked all forms of art, so I just knew that's what I wanted to do.

Every artist says that he/she wants to do something challenging, and I'm not any different. If someone approaches me with a serious role, I'll be more than happy.

Is an artist much more than a beggar?

The oldest of the arts and the youngest of the professions.

I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot.

The arts were like, there's no opponent. It's just yourself. I'm not saying they don't make the arts a competition with awards and all that, but that's outside the work itself.

Architects, sculptors painters, we all must return to the crafts! For art is not a 'profession.' There is no essential difference between the artist and the craftsman. The artist is an exalted craftsman.