--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing harder for an Artist…" description: "\"There is nothing harder for an Artist than to retain his Artistic integrity in the tomb of success. A tomb, nevertheless, which nearly every Artist: wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/caitlin-thomas-17205_artist_there-is-nothing-harder-for-an-artist-th_395861.png" --- # There is nothing harder for an Artist than to retain his… ![“There is nothing harder for an Artist than to retain his Artistic integrity in the tomb of success. A tomb, nevertheless, which nearly every Artist: whether he admits it or not; naturally wants to get into.” quote by Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/caitlin-thomas-17205_artist_there-is-nothing-harder-for-an-artist-th_395861.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/caitlin-thomas-17205_artist_there-is-nothing-harder-for-an-artist-th_395861.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/caitlin-thomas-17205_artist_there-is-nothing-harder-for-an-artist-th_395861.png) > “There is nothing harder for an Artist than to retain his Artistic integrity in the tomb of success. A tomb, nevertheless, which nearly every Artist: whether he admits it or not; naturally wants to get into.” [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An artist struggles to keep true to their vision when success tempts them to compromise. **In simple terms:** Success can pressure artists to lose authenticity. Key Takeaway Guard your creative values despite fame. Themes art integrity success temptation Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - gallery shows - publishing deals - social media fame - commercial contracts Key Concepts authenticity creative pressure ethical dilemmas Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success without sacrificing art? - What boundaries protect your creative voice? A Different Perspective Even with integrity, financial survival may force compromises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic/) [Artistic integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic-integrity/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Hate is a dead thing. Who of you would be a tomb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/hate-is-a-dead-thing-who-of-you-would-be-a-tomb/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [I--love's skein upon the ground, My body in the tomb-- Shall leap into the light lost In my mother's womb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/i-love-s-skein-upon-the-ground-my-body-in-the-tomb-shall-leap-into/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [My father's body lies in a stone tomb high on a hill. People walk by, pause, think their own thoughts about him and move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-davis/my-father-s-body-lies-in-a-stone-tomb-high-on-a-hill-people-walk-by/) [Patti Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-davis/) > [The earth, that is nature's mother, is her tomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-earth-that-is-nature-s-mother-is-her-tomb/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is nothing illegal in keeping up a tomb; on the contrary, it is a very laudable thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lindley/there-is-nothing-illegal-in-keeping-up-a-tomb-on-the-contrary-it-is-a/) Ryan Lindley > [The tomb was empty-the greatest security breach of all time.Yet that event gives lasting security to all God's people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/the-tomb-was-empty-the-greatest-security-breach-of-all-time-yet-that/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [A woman's fame is the tomb of her happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/a-woman-s-fame-is-the-tomb-of-her-happiness/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [And that enquiring man John Synge comes next, That dying chose the living world for text And never could have rested in the tomb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/and-that-enquiring-man-john-synge-comes-next-that-dying-chose-the/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The empty tomb stands, a veritable rock, as an essential element in the evidence for the resurrection. To suggest that it was not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-anderson/the-empty-tomb-stands-a-veritable-rock-as-an-essential-element-in-the/) Norman Anderson > [My day's work will begin again the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/my-day-s-work-will-begin-again-the-next-morning-the-tomb-is-not-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Having been the discoverer of many splendid things, he is said to have asked his friends and relations that, after his death, they should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archimedes/having-been-the-discoverer-of-many-splendid-things-he-is-said-to-have/) [Archimedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archimedes/) > [The rich pearl of life, Soon moulders in its blackened urn, the tomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-mclellan/the-rich-pearl-of-life-soon-moulders-in-its-blackened-urn-the-tomb/) [Isaac McLellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-mclellan/) > [“Some people die and you realize that the only mark they left on earth are the tomb stones under which they lie. The impacts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/some-people-die-and-you-realize-that-the-only-mark-they-left-on-earth/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Jesus Christ rose up from the tomb. Well, he's the son of God, and now he's like God's spirit at this point. Why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/jesus-christ-rose-up-from-the-tomb-well-he-s-the-son-of-god-and-now/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Custom meets us at the cradle and leaves us only at the tomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/custom-meets-us-at-the-cradle-and-leaves-us-only-at-the-tomb/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More by Caitlin Thomas > [A lot of warm vulgarity is incomparably preferable to a little bit of pinched niceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/a-lot-of-warm-vulgarity-is-incomparably-preferable-to-a-little-bit-of/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [Sex divorced from love is the thief of personal dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/sex-divorced-from-love-is-the-thief-of-personal-dignity/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [The wretched Artist himself is alternatively the lowest worm that ever crawled when no fire is in him; or the loftiest God that ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/the-wretched-artist-himself-is-alternatively-the-lowest-worm-that/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [there is no gaiety as gay as the gaiety of grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/there-is-no-gaiety-as-gay-as-the-gaiety-of-grief/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [When the desire is on for one particular person, nobody else will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/when-the-desire-is-on-for-one-particular-person-nobody-else-will-do/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [anybody who drinks seriously is poor: so poor, poor, extra poor, me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/anybody-who-drinks-seriously-is-poor-so-poor-poor-extra-poor-me/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [There is, happily, no limit to the faith of human nature in believing what it wants to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/there-is-happily-no-limit-to-the-faith-of-human-nature-in-believing/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [resignation, perhaps the most stifling word in the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/resignation-perhaps-the-most-stifling-word-in-the-language/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [ \[On journalists:\] ... however lyingly libellous they may be: nobody can seriously hurt the reputation of a Great person. If he is hurt: he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/on-journalists-however-lyingly-libellous-they-may-be-nobody-can/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [ \[On journalists:\] They are as disruptive a menace to the public body: as grating turds in the intestines are to the private body. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/on-journalists-they-are-as-disruptive-a-menace-to-the-public-body-as/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [There is a brotherliness about a drinking person, which is coldly lacking in the straight and narrow enemies of drink; the difference between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/there-is-a-brotherliness-about-a-drinking-person-which-is-coldly/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [England, where nobody ever says what they mean: and by denying feeling, kill it off stone-cold at the roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/england-where-nobody-ever-says-what-they-mean-and-by-denying-feeling/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [money ... is only important when you have none; and though it may not be everything, it goes a very long way towards blocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/money-is-only-important-when-you-have-none-and-though-it-may-not-be/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [“Fearful as reality is, it is less fearful than evasions of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/fearful-as-reality-is-it-is-less-fearful-than-evasions-of-reality/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) > [So it is useless to evade reality, because it only makes it more virulent in the end. But instead, look steadfastly into the slit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-thomas/so-it-is-useless-to-evade-reality-because-it-only-makes-it-more/) [Caitlin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) [Explore all 37 Caitlin Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-thomas/) ## 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": "There is nothing harder for an Artist than to retain his Artistic integrity in the tomb of success. 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