--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we want to make meaning, we need to…" description: "\"If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, sculpt, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/bren-brown-280_art_if-we-want-to-make-meaning-we-need-to-ma_2893541.jpg" --- # If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook… ![“If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, sculpt, dance, decorate, act, sing - it doesn't matter. As long as we're creating, we're cultivating meaning.” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/bren-brown-280_art_if-we-want-to-make-meaning-we-need-to-ma_2893541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/bren-brown-280_art_if-we-want-to-make-meaning-we-need-to-ma_2893541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/bren-brown-280_art_if-we-want-to-make-meaning-we-need-to-ma_2893541.jpg) > “If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. Cook, write, draw, doodle, paint, scrapbook, take pictures, collage, knit, rebuild an engine, sculpt, dance, decorate, act, sing - it doesn't matter. As long as we're creating, we're cultivating meaning.” [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating art in any form generates meaning, because expression nurtures purpose. **In simple terms:** Art makes meaning. Key Takeaway Create regularly to find purpose. Themes creativity meaning expression purpose vulnerability Mood inspirational hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - journaling - painting - music composition - DIY projects Key Concepts psychology art therapy humanism Questions to Reflect On - What creative activity feels most authentic to you? - How does creation affect your sense of self? A Different Perspective Art alone may not solve existential emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Cooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooks/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creating Cultivating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating-cultivating-4077068/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Make Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-art/) [Make Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-meaning-539650/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-make/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I really want to make art. I want to create something that's going to have a lasting impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-spurlock/i-really-want-to-make-art-i-want-to-create-something-that-s-going-to/) [Morgan Spurlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-spurlock/) > [More than ever, we express ourselves with what we buy and how we use what we buy. Extensions of our personality, totems of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/more-than-ever-we-express-ourselves-with-what-we-buy-and-how-we-use/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [The companies that are successful, they start out to make meaning, not to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/the-companies-that-are-successful-they-start-out-to-make-meaning-not/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [The root of great companies is make meaning vs. make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/the-root-of-great-companies-is-make-meaning-vs-make-money/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [The job of leadership today is not just to make money, it's to make meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-seely-brown/the-job-of-leadership-today-is-not-just-to-make-money-it-s-to-make/) [John Seely Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-seely-brown/) > [If you make money, you might not make meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/if-you-make-money-you-might-not-make-meaning/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [“At our core, we are not made to be extensions of machines, or to find our personal validity in four decades of gutting it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-blakeman/at-our-core-we-are-not-made-to-be-extensions-of-machines-or-to-find/) [Chuck Blakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-blakeman/) > [The span of a man's life - that is nothing. But what a man makes of that span - that is something. A man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/the-span-of-a-man-s-life-that-is-nothing-but-what-a-man-makes-of-that/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [The point of creativity is to express and challenge yourself, to make meaning, to embrace your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-orenstein/the-point-of-creativity-is-to-express-and-challenge-yourself-to-make/) [Peggy Orenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-orenstein/) > [The Bible isn't a choose your own adventure book where everyone can just make up their own meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-l-corey/the-bible-isn-t-a-choose-your-own-adventure-book-where-everyone-can/) [Benjamin L. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-l-corey/) > [My job is to make meaning. To make meaning in a meaningless world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-perry/my-job-is-to-make-meaning-to-make-meaning-in-a-meaningless-world/) [Grayson Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-perry/) > [If you make meaning, you'll make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/if-you-make-meaning-you-ll-make-money/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [“so what difference does that make, meaning or not meaning to do something? Accident or on purpose, the result is the same,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/so-what-difference-does-that-make-meaning-or-not-meaning-to-do/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I'm always embarrassed when I'm asked about meaning, because it is what you make it. The meaning is yours, so it's not about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-sciamma/i-m-always-embarrassed-when-i-m-asked-about-meaning-because-it-is/) [Celine Sciamma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-sciamma/) > [Meaning of life well you find out who you are then we'll talk (You make the meaning of life)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heyhello77/meaning-of-life-well-you-find-out-who-you-are-then-we-ll-talk-you/) [HeyHello77](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heyhello77/) ## More by Brené Brown > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [When you ask people about love, they tell you about heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-ask-people-about-love-they-tell-you-about-heartbreak/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I can recognize shame when it’s happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-can-recognize-shame-when-it-s-happening/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-carry-a-small-sheet-of-paper-in-my-wallet-that-has-written-on-it/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-starts-with-showing-up-and-letting-ourselves-be-seen/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/waking-up-every-day-and-loving-someone-who-may-or-may-not-love-us/) [Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-corrodes-the-very-part-of-us-that-believes-we-are-capable-of/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I found that men and women with high levels of shame resilience share these four elements: They understand shame and recognize what messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-found-that-men-and-women-with-high-levels-of-shame-resilience-share/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“But here’s the tricky part about compassion and connecting: We can’t call just anyone. It’s not that simple. I have a lot of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/but-here-s-the-tricky-part-about-compassion-and-connecting-we-can-t/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) [Explore all 759 Brené Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## 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": "If we want to make meaning, we need to make art. 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