--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People say graffiti is ugly…" description: "\"People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.\" — Banksy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/banksy-3076_artist_people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsibl_282582.jpg" --- # People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish… ![“People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.” quote by Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/banksy-3076_artist_people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsibl_282582.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/banksy-3076_artist_people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsibl_282582.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/banksy-3076_artist_people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsibl_282582.jpg) > “People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.” [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. Graffiti can be powerful and meaningful when executed with skill and intent, challenging the notion that it is merely vandalism. **In simple terms:** Graffiti can be art if done well. Key Takeaway Consider the purpose behind street art. Themes art expression public space Mood provocative thoughtful Type artistic controversial When to use this quote - community projects - political statements - advertising - personal expression Key Concepts visual culture social commentary urban aesthetics Questions to Reflect On - What message does the piece convey? - How does context change perception? A Different Perspective Critics may still view it as illegal or disruptive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Graffiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graffiti/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Street art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street-art/) ## Related quotes > [Become good at cheating and you never need to become good at anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/become-good-at-cheating-and-you-never-need-to-become-good-at-anything/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Think outside the box, collapse the box, and take a f\*\*king sharp knife to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/think-outside-the-box-collapse-the-box-and-take-a-f-king-sharp-knife/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, leave the house before you find something worth staying in for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/nothing-in-the-world-is-more-common-than-unsuccessful-people-with/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/modern-art-is-a-disaster-area-never-in-the-field-of-human-history-has/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It's people who follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking-2/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/some-people-become-cops-because-they-want-to-make-the-world-a-better/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-is-one-of-the-few-tools-you-have-if-you-have-almost-nothing/) [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/) > [Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-is-more-common-than-unsuccessful-people-with-talent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Street art, unlike graffiti, adds to the environment and is a positive experience for the artist and community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/street-art-unlike-graffiti-adds-to-the-environment-and-is-a-positive/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [In Afghanistan I was doing street art because it was more open, but when I had a show, only men would come. I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malina-suliman/in-afghanistan-i-was-doing-street-art-because-it-was-more-open-but/) [Malina Suliman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malina-suliman/) > [“I laugh at the way some people think graffiti is all selfish tagging and vandalism. Thoughtful street art is like good fiction – it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger-2/i-laugh-at-the-way-some-people-think-graffiti-is-all-selfish-tagging/) [Carla H. Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger-2/) > [“Art is an evolutionary act. The shape of art and its role in society is constantly changing. At no point is art static. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-salvatore-harmon/art-is-an-evolutionary-act-the-shape-of-art-and-its-role-in-society/) Raymond Salvatore Harmon > [“Your mind is working at its best when you're being paranoid. You explore every avenue and possibility of your situation at high speed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/your-mind-is-working-at-its-best-when-you-re-being-paranoid-you/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [A wall is a very big weapon. 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/) ## More by Banksy > [A wall is a very big weapon. 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 Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“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 > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [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 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/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Banksy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsible-and-childish-but-that-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsible-and-childish-but-that-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/banksy-3076_artist_people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsibl_282582.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/banksy-3076_artist_people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsibl_282582.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcb/banksy-3076_artist_people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsibl_282582.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.” — 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": "People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsible-and-childish-but-that-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/people-say-graffiti-is-ugly-irresponsible-and-childish-but-that-s/#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 } } ] } ```