Anthony Burgess Quotes

To write is to become disinterested. There is a certain renunciation in art.

A creation needs not only subjectivity, but also objectivity.

I believe that the reason why I love painting so much is that it forces one to be objective. There is nothing I hate more than sentimentality.

Hope - I wanted to give to that to the people. When you do that, you have to be willing to be unpopular. It's not the formula for radio songs.

Art is unthinkable without risk and spiritual self-sacrifice.

I don't think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further. It celebrates humanity instead of manipulating it.

Art is the daughter of freedom.

Artwork is not like a commercial business; there is no such thing as a schedule for art. You can't hurry art.

You get everything you could have ever wished for if you're willing to give that eternal bliss away to somebody else, to give it back.

Art is the most passionate orgy within man's grasp.

The writer is someone who tears himself to pieces in order to liberate his neighbor.

One must die to life in order to be utterly a creator.

When one loves one's Art no service seems too hard.

Art is a kind of illness.

I feel constricted if I become too much aware of the act of making. Liberty is lost and instead of an instinctual lyrical expression the whole thing becomes arid.

Once I've written something it does tend to run away from me. I don't seem to have any part of it - it's no longer my piece of writing.

Books and movies are never finished, only surrendered.

To be an artist you have to give up everything, including the desire to be a good artist.

Renunciation - that is the great fact we all, individuals and classes, have to learn. In trying to avoid it we bring misery to ourselves and others.

You have to be somewhat ruthless with your work. You have to let things go. Even your favourite little part might not work in the end.

Most female artists - to do what you have to do and to be as honest as you have to be, to be as selfish as you have to be, as tunnel-visioned as you have to be to make art, not entertainment - you can't compromise, really.

I'm focused on creating art and whichever outlet it can get out in.

Don't think about making art.

Half of art is accident, but there is no accident without free experiment.

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