--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I am trying to say is that it is not…" description: "\"What I am trying to say is that it is not without any value. The value of copies is that they can direct us towards the original. I was recently at the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/abbas-kiarostami-2631_agape_what-i-am-trying-to-say-is-that-it-is-no_239093.png" --- # What I am trying to say is that it is not without any… ![“What I am trying to say is that it is not without any value. The value of copies is that they can direct us towards the original. I was recently at the Louvre Museum and I was filming people who were viewing the Mona Lisa. I noticed the number of ordinary people, astonished, mouths agape, standing…” quote by Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/abbas-kiarostami-2631_agape_what-i-am-trying-to-say-is-that-it-is-no_239093.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/abbas-kiarostami-2631_agape_what-i-am-trying-to-say-is-that-it-is-no_239093.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/822/abbas-kiarostami-2631_agape_what-i-am-trying-to-say-is-that-it-is-no_239093.png) > “What I am trying to say is that it is not without any value. The value of copies is that they can direct us towards the original. I was recently at the Louvre Museum and I was filming people who were viewing the Mona Lisa. I noticed the number of ordinary people, astonished, mouths agape, standing still for long stretches looking at the work, and I wondered, "Where does this come from? Are these people all art connoisseurs?" They are like me; through the years, we've seen this work in our schoolbooks or art history books, but when we stand before the original, we hold our breath.” [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Copies guide us to originals, intensifying awe when confronting the masterpiece, highlighting the value of indirect experience. **In simple terms:** Copies lead us to the original, deepening appreciation. Key Takeaway Value indirect paths to truth. Themes art perception value Mood reflective curious Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - museum visits - art education - personal reflection - creative inspiration Key Concepts originals copies aesthetic experience Questions to Reflect On - What role do reproductions play in learning? - How does anticipation shape our experience of art? A Different Perspective Originals may lose impact without context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agape/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-history/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [History books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-books/) [Louvre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/louvre/) [Museums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/museums/) [Ordinary people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Through the years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/through-the-years/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Only utopian liberals could be surprised that the Nazis were art connoisseurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/only-utopian-liberals-could-be-surprised-that-the-nazis-were-art/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [“Burn the Louvre, and wipe your ass with the Mona Lisa. This way at least, God would know our names.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/burn-the-louvre-and-wipe-your-ass-with-the-mona-lisa-this-way-at/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [You should definitely visit the Louvre, a world-famous art museum where you can view, at close range, the backs of thousands of other tourists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-should-definitely-visit-the-louvre-a-world-famous-art-museum/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Rock and Roll adolescent hoodlums storm the streets of all nations. They rush into the Louvre and throw acid in the Mona Lisa's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/rock-and-roll-adolescent-hoodlums-storm-the-streets-of-all-nations/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“Consider Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, celebrated for its beautiful detail, the surreal backdrop, and of course the subject’s enigmatic smile. More visitors have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-simler/consider-leonardo-da-vinci-s-mona-lisa-celebrated-for-its-beautiful/) [Kevin Simler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-simler/) > [I went to the Louvre in Paris, and I saw all the paintings and the Mona Lisa. You don't really see something like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/i-went-to-the-louvre-in-paris-and-i-saw-all-the-paintings-and-the/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [I was sick of people making fun of my hair and so I cut it off and I've got much more attention than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/i-was-sick-of-people-making-fun-of-my-hair-and-so-i-cut-it-off-and-i/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [People tend to agree with your estimated value for yourself, so value yourself higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-raphy/people-tend-to-agree-with-your-estimated-value-for-yourself-so-value/) King Raphy > [When we love something it is of value to us, and when something is of value to us we spend time with it, time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-love-something-it-is-of-value-to-us-and-when-something-is-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is, literally and figuratively, not a gold standard. That's almost as big a problem in art as in the financial world. How do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-currin/there-is-literally-and-figuratively-not-a-gold-standard-that-s-almost/) [John Currin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-currin/) > [“And if you could just go and buy everything, what was the value of it? What was the value of a man?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/and-if-you-could-just-go-and-buy-everything-what-was-the-value-of-it/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [“Most people equate value with money, and money does have value. But the highest value-the most important value-is the value you create with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews-the-noticer-returns/most-people-equate-value-with-money-and-money-does-have-value-but-the/) Andy Andrews-The Noticer Returns > [“Must you value what others value, avoid what others avoid? How ridiculous!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/must-you-value-what-others-value-avoid-what-others-avoid-how/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [“Don’t some people say, ‘You did not value me’? What value did you have at all? Go ask the ocean, ‘what is my worth?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/don-t-some-people-say-you-did-not-value-me-what-value-did-you-have-at/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Of God's love we can say two things: it is poured out universally for everyone from the Pope to the loneliest wino on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/of-god-s-love-we-can-say-two-things-it-is-poured-out-universally-for/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) ## More by Abbas Kiarostami > [I think violence can never be justified. At the same time, nobody’s culture or beliefs should be insulted, that’s not something I can accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-think-violence-can-never-be-justified-at-the-same-time-nobody-s/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I would say that no film is apolitical. There are politics in all films. Any film that is anchored in a society, any film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-would-say-that-no-film-is-apolitical-there-are-politics-in-all/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [In real life, when someone's partner calls them, they can tell from the first word their partner says what their mood is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/in-real-life-when-someone-s-partner-calls-them-they-can-tell-from-the/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I don't have very complete scripts for my films. I have a general outline and a character in my mind, and I make no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-don-t-have-very-complete-scripts-for-my-films-i-have-a-general/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [This was pointed out to me by somebody who referred to the paintings of Rembrandt and his use of light: some elements are highlighted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/this-was-pointed-out-to-me-by-somebody-who-referred-to-the-paintings/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [A work of art doesn't exist outside the perception of the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/a-work-of-art-doesn-t-exist-outside-the-perception-of-the-audience/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I would be too selfish if I said everyone should see my movies more than once. To say that would mean I'm just marketing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-would-be-too-selfish-if-i-said-everyone-should-see-my-movies-more/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Unfortunately, cinema critics are very few in America, 400-500 people, but there are more critics of Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/unfortunately-cinema-critics-are-very-few-in-america-400-500-people/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Usually when I take my films to festivals, I feel incredibly anxious about them. I wonder how it will be received, how the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/usually-when-i-take-my-films-to-festivals-i-feel-incredibly-anxious/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [My car's my best friend. My office. My home. My location. I have a very intimate sense when I am in a car with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/my-car-s-my-best-friend-my-office-my-home-my-location-i-have-a-very/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [It was a film that I knew, that I had seen, that I was familiar with, but I wasn't anxious about it at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/it-was-a-film-that-i-knew-that-i-had-seen-that-i-was-familiar-with/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [I never intended to write poems, nor to be a photographer, nor to be a film-maker. I just took many, many pictures and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-never-intended-to-write-poems-nor-to-be-a-photographer-nor-to-be-a/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [ When the film \[Certified Copy\] was in the Cannes Festival, I realized that the fact of having it shot in a different culture, in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/when-the-film-certified-copy-was-in-the-cannes-festival-i-realized/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [Those same people, when they leave the theater, when they look behind the curtains they are curious about their neighbors, they can guess if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/those-same-people-when-they-leave-the-theater-when-they-look-behind/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) > [There is violence in real life but I would never impose violence in a film just to attract the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/there-is-violence-in-real-life-but-i-would-never-impose-violence-in-a/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) [Explore all 157 Abbas Kiarostami quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) ## More Agape quotes > [There's a term, agape, you hear used a lot with charismatic religious groups, that it's this more pure love of caring, of sharing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/there-s-a-term-agape-you-hear-used-a-lot-with-charismatic-religious/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [Agape means recognition of the fact that all life is interrelated. All humanity is involved in a single process, and all men are brothers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/agape-means-recognition-of-the-fact-that-all-life-is-interrelated-all/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [There must be a stronger foundation than mere friendship or sexual attraction. Unconditional love, agape love, will not be swayed by time or circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/there-must-be-a-stronger-foundation-than-mere-friendship-or-sexual/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [“Agape love is strengthened by the person who expresses it - not by the person who receives it. In fact, the person who receives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-apollo/agape-love-is-strengthened-by-the-person-who-expresses-it-not-by-the/) Brian Apollo > [“Every action is a losing, a letting go, a passing away from oneself of some bit of one’s own reality into the existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-mcgill/every-action-is-a-losing-a-letting-go-a-passing-away-from-oneself-of/) Arthur C. McGill > [“No doubt, God has placed you in the position to love the unlovely, whether or not you've been obedient to that command. In fact,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/no-doubt-god-has-placed-you-in-the-position-to-love-the-unlovely/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [My teenage children watched Senator Clinton on the Today Show, mouths agape. They attended our local caucus with me and saw hundreds of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoshana-zuboff/my-teenage-children-watched-senator-clinton-on-the-today-show-mouths/) [Shoshana Zuboff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoshana-zuboff/) > [“ Agape is disinterested love. It is a love in which the individual seeks not his own good, but the good of his neighbor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/agape-is-disinterested-love-it-is-a-love-in-which-the-individual/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“To agape,” we all echoed, raising our wineglasses and drinking to higher love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-konigsberg/to-agape-we-all-echoed-raising-our-wineglasses-and-drinking-to-higher/) [Bill Konigsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-konigsberg/) > [Agape is disinterested love. . . . Agape does not begin by discriminating between worthy and unworthy people, or any qualities people possess. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/agape-is-disinterested-love-agape-does-not-begin-by-discriminating/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“HE remembered looking "agape" in his encyclopedia volume after he read Dr. King's speech in the DEFENDER. The newspaper ran the address in full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/he-remembered-looking-agape-in-his-encyclopedia-volume-after-he-read/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [We must never stop dreaming. Dreams provide nourishment for the soul, just as a meal does for the body. Many times in our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-must-never-stop-dreaming-dreams-provide-nourishment-for-the-soul/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Experience and Demonstrate the Agape Love, is far more than Gold - Go for it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-asumadu-sarkodie/experience-and-demonstrate-the-agape-love-is-far-more-than-gold-go/) [Samuel Asumadu-Sarkodie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-asumadu-sarkodie/) > [“Sissy had two great failings. She was a great lover and a great mother. She had so much of tenderness in her, so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/sissy-had-two-great-failings-she-was-a-great-lover-and-a-great-mother/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [“I am blessed and being blessed is something more than just having something. It is a state of mind in which the good of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/i-am-blessed-and-being-blessed-is-something-more-than-just-having/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) [Browse all 71 Agape quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agape/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I am trying to say is that it is not without any value. The value of copies is that they can direct us towards the original. I was recently at the Louvre Museum and I was filming people who were viewing the Mona Lisa. I noticed the number of ordinary people, astonished, mouths agape, standing still for long stretches looking at the work, and I wondered, \"Where does this come from? 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