--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To understand an artist is to be a genius." description: "\"To understand an artist is to be a genius.\" — Andrew Lakey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/andrew-lakey-54539_art_to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-geniu_3230354.jpg" --- # To understand an artist is to be a genius. ![“To understand an artist is to be a genius.” quote by Andrew Lakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/andrew-lakey-54539_art_to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-geniu_3230354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/andrew-lakey-54539_art_to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-geniu_3230354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/andrew-lakey-54539_art_to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-geniu_3230354.jpg) > “To understand an artist is to be a genius.” [Andrew Lakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lakey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding an artist requires recognizing their unique perspective and creative process, which reflects a form of genius. **In simple terms:** Seeing an artist is seeing genius. Key Takeaway Appreciate creative minds. Themes creativity genius empathy Mood thoughtful inspirational Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - art criticism - personal relationships - education - team collaboration Key Concepts artistic insight psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing genius affect your view of art? - Can you see genius in everyday creativity? A Different Perspective Genius may be overstated; not all artists are geniuses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) ## Related quotes > [Everyone is an artist and a genius, I think. If we don't choose to limit ourselves then we are totally accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/everyone-is-an-artist-and-a-genius-i-think-if-we-don-t-choose-to/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [I met David Bowie when I was 14, and he became a hero to me - because he was an artist, and because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/i-met-david-bowie-when-i-was-14-and-he-became-a-hero-to-me-because-he/) [Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/) > [ His \[Michael Jackson\] behavior was weird, but when you get an artist and a genius, many of the geniuses throughout our whole history were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berry-gordy/his-michael-jackson-behavior-was-weird-but-when-you-get-an-artist-and/) [Berry Gordy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berry-gordy/) > [What people don't understand is that how you are as an artist depends on how you are emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/what-people-don-t-understand-is-that-how-you-are-as-an-artist-depends/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [The critic, to interpret his artist, even to understand his artist, must be able to get into the mind of his artist; he must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-critic-to-interpret-his-artist-even-to-understand-his-artist-must/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I understand, as an artist as well as a producer, the need for there to be mystery and surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-understand-as-an-artist-as-well-as-a-producer-the-need-for-there-to/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [When a painting is finished, it's like a new born child, and the artist himself must have time for understanding. How then do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-matisse/when-a-painting-is-finished-it-s-like-a-new-born-child-and-the-artist/) [Henri Matisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-matisse/) > [The whole point of an album is to understand the artist and enjoy the music - it's supposed to make you want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/little-simz/the-whole-point-of-an-album-is-to-understand-the-artist-and-enjoy-the/) [Little Simz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/little-simz/) > [“Behavior reflects personality. The best indicator of future violence is past violence. To understand the "artist," you must study his "art." The crime must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-douglas/behavior-reflects-personality-the-best-indicator-of-future-violence/) [John E. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-douglas/) > [If the function of the artist is to see, the first duty of the critic is to understand what the artist saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-e-h-macdonald/if-the-function-of-the-artist-is-to-see-the-first-duty-of-the-critic/) [J. E. H. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-e-h-macdonald/) > [Of the whole public not a handful can understand the artist's point of view or the writer's conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-perkins/of-the-whole-public-not-a-handful-can-understand-the-artist-s-point/) [Maxwell Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-perkins/) > [The first two major label records I did what I wanted to do. It wasn't a problem until after I finished my part. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-hunt/the-first-two-major-label-records-i-did-what-i-wanted-to-do-it-wasn-t/) [Van Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-hunt/) > [One of my biggest heroes in music has been David Bowie. He's said, 'I'm going to be a painter now, or I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/one-of-my-biggest-heroes-in-music-has-been-david-bowie-he-s-said-i-m/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth at least the truth that is given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/we-all-know-that-art-is-not-truth-art-is-a-lie-that-makes-us-realize/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Let them understand above all that the artist works from necessity; that he, too, is a minute element of the world to whom one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/let-them-understand-above-all-that-the-artist-works-from-necessity/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) ## More by Andrew Lakey > [Art is the consciousness of currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/art-is-the-consciousness-of-currency/) [Andrew Lakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lakey/) > [Unencountered Language is the court and spark between words we recognize and those we don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/unencountered-language-is-the-court-and-spark-between-words-we/) [Andrew Lakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lakey/) > [Language is the currency of consciousness. We speak to fill the void. We write it down to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/language-is-the-currency-of-consciousness-we-speak-to-fill-the-void/) [Andrew Lakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lakey/) > [It has taken me 20 years to eliminate the unnecessary elements from my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/it-has-taken-me-20-years-to-eliminate-the-unnecessary-elements-from/) [Andrew Lakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lakey/) > [People want to find a 'meaning' in everything and everyone. That's the problem - there is no meaning in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/people-want-to-find-a-meaning-in-everything-and-everyone-that-s-the-2/) [Andrew Lakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lakey/) [Explore all 6 Andrew Lakey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lakey/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To understand an artist is to be a genius.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew Lakey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-genius/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-genius/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/andrew-lakey-54539_art_to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-geniu_3230354.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/andrew-lakey-54539_art_to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-geniu_3230354.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17e/andrew-lakey-54539_art_to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-geniu_3230354.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To understand an artist is to be a genius.” — Andrew Lakey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Andrew Lakey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lakey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To understand an artist is to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-genius/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lakey/to-understand-an-artist-is-to-be-a-genius/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```