--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I rummage around in artistic things from…" description: "\"I rummage around in artistic things from the past. If you don't understand the context, they wouldn't make any sense. I rummage around in conceptual id..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/billy-corgan-1014_art_i-rummage-around-in-artistic-things-from_808729.png" --- # I rummage around in artistic things from the past. If you… ![“I rummage around in artistic things from the past. If you don't understand the context, they wouldn't make any sense. I rummage around in conceptual ideas of the future, but if you don't know the source of the thinking, [it] wouldn't make any sense.” quote by Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/billy-corgan-1014_art_i-rummage-around-in-artistic-things-from_808729.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/billy-corgan-1014_art_i-rummage-around-in-artistic-things-from_808729.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9a/billy-corgan-1014_art_i-rummage-around-in-artistic-things-from_808729.png) > “I rummage around in artistic things from the past. If you don't understand the context, they wouldn't make any sense. I rummage around in conceptual ideas of the future, but if you don't know the source of the thinking, \[it\] wouldn't make any sense.” [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding art or ideas requires knowing their historical or conceptual context; without it, meaning is lost. **In simple terms:** Context gives meaning to art and ideas. Key Takeaway Learn background before judging. Themes art context interpretation Mood analytical thoughtful Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - museum visits - academic study - creative projects Key Concepts historical perspective conceptual analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you approach works lacking clear origins? - Can meaning exist without context? A Different Perspective Context may be inaccessible or ambiguous. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Things past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-past/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Now the word-symbols of conceptual ideas have passed so long from hand to hand in the service of the understanding, that they have gradually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-wundt/now-the-word-symbols-of-conceptual-ideas-have-passed-so-long-from/) [Wilhelm Wundt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-wundt/) > [I just happened to start playing music for the conceptual ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-gordon/i-just-happened-to-start-playing-music-for-the-conceptual-ideas/) [Kim Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-gordon/) > [Religious life is not going to go away. It will take a different form. Why am I so sure it's not going to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/religious-life-is-not-going-to-go-away-it-will-take-a-different-form/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/remembrance-of-things-past-is-not-necessarily-the-remembrance-of/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [I'm constantly being inspired by the old days and taking things from the past and allowing them to lift me up where I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-june/i-m-constantly-being-inspired-by-the-old-days-and-taking-things-from/) [Valerie June](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-june/) > [Blaming things on the past does not make them better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/blaming-things-on-the-past-does-not-make-them-better/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [“And there are certain moments in your life when something becomes clear, and other things in the past - things that your mind, unbeknownst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-asher/and-there-are-certain-moments-in-your-life-when-something-becomes/) [Bridget Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-asher/) > [Theres no much to life than that of which everything have it limited time, such things at last will surely become such things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/theres-no-much-to-life-than-that-of-which-everything-have-it-limited/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [The past is the past, but truth is, some things in the past stay with you forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknowns/the-past-is-the-past-but-truth-is-some-things-in-the-past-stay-with/) Unknowns > [Usually when I sat down to draw a cartoon, it would be more of a reflection of things in my past. Or it could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-larson/usually-when-i-sat-down-to-draw-a-cartoon-it-would-be-more-of-a/) [Gary Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-larson/) > [It is strange to talk of miracles, revelations, inspiration, and the like, as things past, while love remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-strange-to-talk-of-miracles-revelations-inspiration-and-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“I didn’t want these wretched things to be in my past. But they were; nothing was going to change that fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keary-taylor/i-didn-t-want-these-wretched-things-to-be-in-my-past-but-they-were/) [Keary Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keary-taylor/) > [You can't figure out what to do in the future by looking at how you did things in the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-lewin/you-can-t-figure-out-what-to-do-in-the-future-by-looking-at-how-you/) [Roger Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-lewin/) > [You're human; you make mistakes. You have to put all the things in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-sandoval/you-re-human-you-make-mistakes-you-have-to-put-all-the-things-in-the/) [Pablo Sandoval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-sandoval/) > [I realized that there are just certain things in life that are private. I have things in my past - like everyone - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-osmond/i-realized-that-there-are-just-certain-things-in-life-that-are/) [Ken Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-osmond/) ## More by Billy Corgan > [To re-embrace what I once loved about music has been a warming process for me, because it's a good, earned feeling now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/to-re-embrace-what-i-once-loved-about-music-has-been-a-warming/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [I never wanted to leave the Smashing Pumpkins. That was never the plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-never-wanted-to-leave-the-smashing-pumpkins-that-was-never-the-plan/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [Everything about life makes me lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everything-about-life-makes-me-lonely/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [I'm prepared to spend the rest of my life playing clubs, if that means I'm playing music that I believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-m-prepared-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-playing-clubs-if-that-means/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [We were in Japan once where they had 30 kinds of green tea. I thought there was one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/we-were-in-japan-once-where-they-had-30-kinds-of-green-tea-i-thought/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [All humans are part male and part female. The other side must be explored to gain complete understanding ofourselves and the world we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/all-humans-are-part-male-and-part-female-the-other-side-must-be/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [“I used to be a little boy So old in my shoes And what i choose is my choice What's a boy supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-used-to-be-a-little-boy-so-old-in-my-shoes-and-what-i-choose-is-my/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [In my case I don't mind playing a character that irritates people or makes people question my sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/in-my-case-i-don-t-mind-playing-a-character-that-irritates-people-or/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [There are people out there who are older who are cool. I want that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/there-are-people-out-there-who-are-older-who-are-cool-i-want-that/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [ Everybody can close their eyes, picture a dream house or a perfect place \[where\] they'd like to have a picnic. But actually creating it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everybody-can-close-their-eyes-picture-a-dream-house-or-a-perfect/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [In the music business I am surrounded by people who don't view music as a sacred voice. They view music as something that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/in-the-music-business-i-am-surrounded-by-people-who-don-t-view-music/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [That was a terrible Super Bowl, I have to say. I mean you got the big Peyton Manning walk off into the sunset win,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/that-was-a-terrible-super-bowl-i-have-to-say-i-mean-you-got-the-big/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [We can look you in the eye and talk to you about life, heart, love rock'n'roll, whatever, but we do not have the moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/we-can-look-you-in-the-eye-and-talk-to-you-about-life-heart-love-rock/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [I've always been spiritual but I've never had a proper context, and it took me awhile to find the proper context. It's hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-ve-always-been-spiritual-but-i-ve-never-had-a-proper-context-and-it/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [ Being overly identified with \[a certain period of time\] becomes a noose around your neck, and people don't want you to grow up, they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/being-overly-identified-with-a-certain-period-of-time-becomes-a-noose/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) [Explore all 308 Billy Corgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) ## 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": "I rummage around in artistic things from the past. 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