--- title: "8 Honest Artist Quotes by 8 authors" description: "Browse 8 Honest Artist quotes by 8 authors. Discover the best Honest Artist sayings and thoughts." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bruce-nauman-16839_art_in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whe_386821.png" --- > [In art, the only one who really knows whether what you've done is honest is the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whether-what-you-ve-done-is/) [Bruce Nauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-nauman/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bruce-nauman-16839_art_in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whe_386821.png) > [Every artist gets asked the question, 'Where do you get your ideas?' The honest artist answers, 'I steal them.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/every-artist-gets-asked-the-question-where-do-you-get-your-ideas-the/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25f/austin-kleon-1835_answers_every-artist-gets-asked-the-question-whe_443196.png) > [I know that my son was an honest person and an honest artist, and what he gave from himself through his art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afeni-shakur/i-know-that-my-son-was-an-honest-person-and-an-honest-artist-and-what/) [Afeni Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afeni-shakur/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/afeni-shakur-12962_art_i-know-that-my-son-was-an-honest-person_523246.jpg) > [“Jubal shrugged. "Abstract design is all right-for wall paper or linoleum. But art is the process of evoking pity and terror, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/jubal-shrugged-abstract-design-is-all-right-for-wall-paper-or/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/robert-a-heinlein-209_art_jubal-shrugged-abstract-design-is-all-ri_1392222.jpg) > [Complete honesty has nothing to do with 'purity' or naivety. The full truth is unattainable to naivety, and the completely honest artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-greenberg/complete-honesty-has-nothing-to-do-with-purity-or-naivety-the-full/) [Clement Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-greenberg/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/clement-greenberg-16776_art_complete-honesty-has-nothing-to-do-with_2057664.jpg) > [I am an honest artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-am-an-honest-artist/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_am_i-am-an-honest-artist-2104636_2104636.png) > [I just want to make one really good movie a year. And when I die, to know I was honest as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/i-just-want-to-make-one-really-good-movie-a-year-and-when-i-die-to/) [Milla Jovovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milla-jovovich/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/milla-jovovich-7612_art_i-just-want-to-make-one-really-good-movi_2187262.jpg) > [You can tell an honest artist from one who's just given all their songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/you-can-tell-an-honest-artist-from-one-who-s-just-given-all-their/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/rita-ora-1777_art_you-can-tell-an-honest-artist-from-one-w_2984673.jpg) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-artist/#itemlist", "name": "Honest Artist Quotes", "numberOfItems": 8, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In art, the only one who really knows whether what you've done is honest is the artist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruce Nauman" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-nauman/in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whether-what-you-ve-done-is/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bruce-nauman-16839_art_in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whe_386821.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bruce-nauman-16839_art_in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whe_386821.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bruce-nauman-16839_art_in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whe_386821.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In art, the only one who really knows whether what you've done is honest is the artist.” — Bruce Nauman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every artist gets asked the question, 'Where do you get your ideas?' The honest artist answers, 'I steal them.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Austin Kleon" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/every-artist-gets-asked-the-question-where-do-you-get-your-ideas-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25f/austin-kleon-1835_answers_every-artist-gets-asked-the-question-whe_443196.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25f/austin-kleon-1835_answers_every-artist-gets-asked-the-question-whe_443196.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25f/austin-kleon-1835_answers_every-artist-gets-asked-the-question-whe_443196.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every artist gets asked the question, 'Where do you get your ideas?' The honest artist answers, 'I steal…” — Austin Kleon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know that my son was an honest person and an honest artist, and what he gave from himself through his art was the depth of his humanity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Afeni Shakur" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afeni-shakur/i-know-that-my-son-was-an-honest-person-and-an-honest-artist-and-what/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/afeni-shakur-12962_art_i-know-that-my-son-was-an-honest-person_523246.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/afeni-shakur-12962_art_i-know-that-my-son-was-an-honest-person_523246.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a6/afeni-shakur-12962_art_i-know-that-my-son-was-an-honest-person_523246.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know that my son was an honest person and an honest artist, and what he gave from himself through his art…” — Afeni Shakur", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Jubal shrugged. \"Abstract design is all right-for wall paper or linoleum. But art is the process of evoking pity and terror, which is not abstract at all but very human. What the self-styled modern artists are doing is a sort of unemotional pseudo-intellectual masturbation. . . whereas creative art is more like intercourse, in which the artist must seduce- render emotional-his audience, each time. These ladies who won't deign to do that- and perhaps can't- of course lost the public. If they hadn't lobbied for endless subsidies, they would have starved or been forced to go to work long ago. Because the ordinary bloke will not voluntarily pay for 'art' that leaves him unmoved- if he does pay for it, the money has to be conned out of him, by taxes or such.\" \"You know, Jubal, I've always wondered why i didn't give a hoot for paintings or statues- but I thought it was something missing in me, like color blindness.\" \"Mmm, one does have to learn to look at art, just as you must know French to read a story printed in French. But in general terms it's up to the artist to use language that can be understood, not hide it in some private code like Pepys and his diary. Most of these jokers don't even want to use language you and I know or can learn. . . they would rather sneer at us and be smug, because we 'fail' to see what they are driving at. If indeed they are driving at anything- obscurity is usually the refuge of incompetence. Ben, would you call me an artists?” “Huh? Well, I’ve never thought about it. You write a pretty good stick.” “Thank you. ‘Artist’ is a word I avoid for the same reasons I hate to be called ‘Doctor.’ But I am an artist, albeit a minor one. Admittedly most of my stuff is fit to read only once… and not even once for a busy person who already knows the little I have to say. But I am an honest artist, because what I write is consciously intended to reach the customer… reach him and affect him, if possible with pity and terror… or, if not, at least to divert the tedium of his hours with a chuckle or an odd idea. But I am never trying to hide it from him in a private language, nor am I seeking the praise of other writers for ‘technique’ or other balderdash. I want the praise of the cash customer, given in cash because I’ve reached him- or I don’t want anything. Support for the arts- merde! A government-supported artist is an incompetent whore! Damn it, you punched one of my buttons. Let me fill your glass and you tell me what is on your mind.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert A. Heinlein" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/jubal-shrugged-abstract-design-is-all-right-for-wall-paper-or/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/robert-a-heinlein-209_art_jubal-shrugged-abstract-design-is-all-ri_1392222.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/robert-a-heinlein-209_art_jubal-shrugged-abstract-design-is-all-ri_1392222.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fe/robert-a-heinlein-209_art_jubal-shrugged-abstract-design-is-all-ri_1392222.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Jubal shrugged. \"Abstract design is all right-for wall paper or linoleum. But art is the process of evoking…” — Robert A. Heinlein", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Complete honesty has nothing to do with 'purity' or naivety. The full truth is unattainable to naivety, and the completely honest artist is not pure in heart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clement Greenberg" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-greenberg/complete-honesty-has-nothing-to-do-with-purity-or-naivety-the-full/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/clement-greenberg-16776_art_complete-honesty-has-nothing-to-do-with_2057664.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/clement-greenberg-16776_art_complete-honesty-has-nothing-to-do-with_2057664.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/clement-greenberg-16776_art_complete-honesty-has-nothing-to-do-with_2057664.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Complete honesty has nothing to do with 'purity' or naivety. The full truth is unattainable to naivety, and…” — Clement Greenberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am an honest artist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alejandro Jodorowsky" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-am-an-honest-artist/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_am_i-am-an-honest-artist-2104636_2104636.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_am_i-am-an-honest-artist-2104636_2104636.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_am_i-am-an-honest-artist-2104636_2104636.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am an honest artist.” — Alejandro Jodorowsky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I just want to make one really good movie a year. And when I die, to know I was honest as an artist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milla Jovovich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milla-jovovich/i-just-want-to-make-one-really-good-movie-a-year-and-when-i-die-to/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/milla-jovovich-7612_art_i-just-want-to-make-one-really-good-movi_2187262.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/milla-jovovich-7612_art_i-just-want-to-make-one-really-good-movi_2187262.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/milla-jovovich-7612_art_i-just-want-to-make-one-really-good-movi_2187262.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I just want to make one really good movie a year. And when I die, to know I was honest as an artist.” — Milla Jovovich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can tell an honest artist from one who's just given all their songs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rita Ora" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/you-can-tell-an-honest-artist-from-one-who-s-just-given-all-their/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/rita-ora-1777_art_you-can-tell-an-honest-artist-from-one-w_2984673.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/rita-ora-1777_art_you-can-tell-an-honest-artist-from-one-w_2984673.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/rita-ora-1777_art_you-can-tell-an-honest-artist-from-one-w_2984673.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can tell an honest artist from one who's just given all their songs.” — Rita Ora", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-artist/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-artist/", "name": "Honest Artist Quotes", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-artist/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bruce-nauman-16839_art_in-art-the-only-one-who-really-knows-whe_386821.png" }, "description": "Browse 8 Honest Artist quotes by 8 authors. 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