--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art should comfort the disturbed and…" description: "\"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.\" — Banksy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/banksy-3076_art_art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-dis_2318453.jpg" --- # Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the… ![“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” quote by Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/banksy-3076_art_art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-dis_2318453.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/banksy-3076_art_art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-dis_2318453.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/banksy-3076_art_art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-dis_2318453.jpg) > “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art should soothe those in pain while unsettling those at ease, challenging comfort zones. **In simple terms:** Comfort the wounded, disturb the comfortable. Key Takeaway Create art that both heals and provokes. Themes art social justice disruption Mood provocative empathetic Type artistic political When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - public spaces - therapy sessions - activist movements Key Concepts catharsis provocation Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to comfort the disturbed? - How can art balance healing and provocation? A Different Perspective Disturbing comfort can alienate audiences and limit reach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-comfort-4210807/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Comfort Disturbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-disturbed-717065/) [Disturb Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturb-comfortable-1012097/) [Disturbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbed/) [Disturbed Disturb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbed-disturb-5532771/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [ART SHOULD COMFORT THE DISTURBED & DISTURB THE COMFORTABLE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-shah/art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-disturb-the-comfortable/) [SAMIR SHAH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-shah/) > [“Art should disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed." -Unknown”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caddy-rowland/art-should-disturb-the-comfortable-and-comfort-the-disturbed-unknown/) [Caddy Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caddy-rowland/) > [Religion should not only comfort us when we are disturbed; it should also disturb us when we are comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-greenberg/religion-should-not-only-comfort-us-when-we-are-disturbed-it-should/) [Sidney Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-greenberg/) > [The duty of the church is to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ramsey/the-duty-of-the-church-is-to-comfort-the-disturbed-and-to-disturb-the/) [Michael Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ramsey/) > [“Art Should Comfort The Disturbed And Disturb The Comforted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-cruz/art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-disturb-the-comforted/) [Cesar Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-cruz/) > [“Good fiction’s job is to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/good-fiction-s-job-is-to-comfort-the-disturbed-and-disturb-the/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“I had a teacher I liked who used to say good fiction’s job was to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-had-a-teacher-i-liked-who-used-to-say-good-fiction-s-job-was-to/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [How could one comfort a disturbed person? He is already assailed with doubts about his faith. He would have to despair with such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-f-w-walther/how-could-one-comfort-a-disturbed-person-he-is-already-assailed-with/) [C. F. W. Walther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-f-w-walther/) > [The light will disturb us when we're comfortable, and comfort us when we're disturbed. 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It's one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/a-wall-is-a-very-big-weapon-it-s-one-of-the-nastiest-things-you-can/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Some people criticize me for using sources that are a bit low brow (this quote is from 'Gladiator') but you know what? 'I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/some-people-criticize-me-for-using-sources-that-are-a-bit-low-brow/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [There's nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/there-s-nothing-more-dangerous-than-someone-who-wants-to-make-the/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The grumpier you are, the more assholes you meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-grumpier-you-are-the-more-assholes-you-meet/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Today's art has been cancelled due to police activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/today-s-art-has-been-cancelled-due-to-police-activity/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti ultimately wins out over proper art because it becomes part of your city, it' s a tool; "I'll meet you in that pub,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-ultimately-wins-out-over-proper-art-because-it-becomes-part/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The bad artists imitate, the great artists steal,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-bad-artists-imitate-the-great-artists-steal/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti's always been a temporary art form. You make your mark and then they scrub it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-s-always-been-a-temporary-art-form-you-make-your-mark-and/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [I just wanna make the world a better-looking place. If you don't like it, you can paint over it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/i-just-wanna-make-the-world-a-better-looking-place-if-you-don-t-like/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [When he time comes to leave, just walk away quietly and don't make any fuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/when-he-time-comes-to-leave-just-walk-away-quietly-and-don-t-make-any/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [If at first you don't succeed, Call an airstrike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-call-an-airstrike/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Painting something that defies the law of the land is good. Painting something that defies the law of the land and the law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/painting-something-that-defies-the-law-of-the-land-is-good-painting/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [“Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a fucking sharp knife to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/think-outside-the-box-collapse-the-box-and-take-a-fucking-sharp-knife/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [We can't do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/we-can-t-do-anything-to-change-the-world-until-capitalism-crumbles-in/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [If you want to say something and have people listen then you have to wear a mask. If you want to be honest then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/if-you-want-to-say-something-and-have-people-listen-then-you-have-to/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) [Explore all 140 Banksy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Banksy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-disturb-the-comfortable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-disturb-the-comfortable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/banksy-3076_art_art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-dis_2318453.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/banksy-3076_art_art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-dis_2318453.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79e/banksy-3076_art_art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-dis_2318453.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” — Banksy", "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": "Banksy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Art should comfort the disturbed and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-disturb-the-comfortable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/art-should-comfort-the-disturbed-and-disturb-the-comfortable/#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 } } ] } ```