Voltaire Quotes

I once asked a distinguished artist what place he gave to labor in art. "Labor," he in effect said, "is the beginning, the middle, and the end of art." Turning then to another--"And you," I inquired, "what do you consider as the great force in art?" "Love," he replied. In their two answers I found but one truth.

I understand wanting to do your craft. I understand wanting to have a passion for your art and for your ability to be an actor, to be a singer, to be a dancer - that I understand. Wanting to be famous - I don't get that. But that's where we're living right now.

I gave my genius to my life, but my talent to my art.

A passion for his art, and an eager desire to excel, will more than supply an artist with the place of method.

If I'm inspired and music inspires me, then I will continue to play it.

I've got something to live for, because I always wanted to be an artist; I always wanted to be famous.

You have to remember you're an artist and get hungry.

I dreamed of being an artist.

There's nothing as human as hunger. There's no creation without talent, I give you that, but talent is cheap. Talent goes begging. Hunger is the piston of art.

Great art can only be created out of love.

People who aren't artists often feel that artists are inspired. But if you work at your art you don't have time to be inspired.

Without enthusiasm nothing great can be effected in art.

To labor in the arts for any reason other than love is prostitution.

Art is why I get up in the morning, but my definition ends there.

I believe that producing pictures, as I do, is almost solely a question of wanting so very much to do it well.

A small artist is content with art; a great artist is content with nothing except everything.

That's the difference between the serious artist and the craftsman--the craftsman can take material and because of his abilities do a professional job of it. The serious artist, like Proust, is like an object caught by a wave and swept to shore. He's obsessed by his material; it's like a venom working in his blood and the art is the antidote.

There's only one reason for my whole life, and that's art. Nothing else counts; nothing else gives me pleasure; nothing else gives me satisfaction.

Music has always been a part of me and art in general. I love visual art as well.

I'm grateful to have the chance to be inspired by the incredible artists that are out there.

I think the key is basically just your determination. As far an artist is concerned, it's just about your drive and your dream.

An artist never works under ideal conditions. If they existed, his work wouldn't exist, for the artist doesn't live in a vacuum. Some sort of pressure must exist. The artist exists because the world is not perfect. Art would be useless if the world were perfect, as man wouldn't look for harmony but would simply live in it.

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

It's seen as dirty to be ambitious. What if U2 weren't ambitious? We wouldn't have that gift we have from them.

I'm producing more, but I think to direct, one has to have a burning desire, and that's not me. I'd rather do something else.