Max Jacob Quotes

You know what ART stands for? Above Real Truth.

Sometimes my art is just an illusion - or is it?

Art is about expressing the true nature of the human spirit in whatever way one wishes to express it. If it is honest, it is beautiful. If it is not honest, it is obvious.

Lying and art are very allied. But after you lie, you get to the truth.

One can be absolutely truthful and sincere even though admittedly the most outrageous liar. Fiction and invention are of the very fabric of life.

The moment you cheat for the sake of beauty, you know you're an artist.

I want that every piece of art be honest, never mind what it is about.

Art is truth.

I think art is much more valuable when it's honest. If it's not honest, it's just propaganda.

I am far from sure when I am acting and when I am not or, should I more frankly put it, when I am lying and when I am not. For what is acting but lying and what is good acting but convincing lying?

An artist cannot be partially sincere any more than art can be an approximation of beauty.

Always make your work be personal. And, you never have to lie... There is something we know that's connected with beauty and truth. There is something ancient. We know that art is about beauty, and therefore it has to be about truth.

Artists use lies to tell the truth. Yes, I created a lie. But because you believed it, you found something true about yourself.

Reality is easy. It's deception that's the hard work.

I am quite certain in my heart of hearts that modern music and modern art is not a conspiracy, but is a form of truth and integrity for those who practise it honestly, decently and with all their being.

In painting you must give the idea of the true by means of the false.

Music is not simply an orchestration of something, but it's also not something as trivial as honesty.

Some music comes from a real place; some music comes from your imagination. It's difficult to find out what's real and what's not, especially with the gangster stuff.

With sculpting, nothing is cloudy or mystical. It's just about this object, and if you're trying to depict reality, and you do it well, then the outcome is the truth.

There's a bit of truth in everything I do, you know.

The only thing you can really say in a poem is what you really, really deeply believe.

Rarely has reality needed so much to be imagined.

Artists can color the sky red because they know it's blue. Those of us who aren't artists must color things the way they really are or people might think we're stupid.

I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster, and leaves less room for lies.

Being honest is my job. That's what music is for me.