--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An artist has got to get acquainted with…" description: "\"“An artist has got to get acquainted with himself just as much as he can. It is no easy job, for it is not a present-day habit of humanity.”\" — Chaim P..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/chaim-potok-2254_acquainted_an-artist-has-got-to-get-acquainted-with_614255.png" --- # An artist has got to get acquainted with himself just as… ![“An artist has got to get acquainted with himself just as much as he can. It is no easy job, for it is not a present-day habit of humanity.” quote by Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/chaim-potok-2254_acquainted_an-artist-has-got-to-get-acquainted-with_614255.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/chaim-potok-2254_acquainted_an-artist-has-got-to-get-acquainted-with_614255.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/chaim-potok-2254_acquainted_an-artist-has-got-to-get-acquainted-with_614255.png) > ““An artist has got to get acquainted with himself just as much as he can. It is no easy job, for it is not a present-day habit of humanity.”” [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists must deeply understand themselves, a task that goes against common modern habits. **In simple terms:** Self‑knowledge is essential for artists. Key Takeaway Seek self‑understanding. Themes self‑exploration creativity identity Mood introspective challenging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative work - therapy - education Key Concepts psychology artistic process Questions to Reflect On - How can you make self‑reflection a habit? - What barriers stop you from knowing yourself? A Different Perspective Self‑knowledge can be painful and socially discouraged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquainted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquainted/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Self knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowledge/) [Standing out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-out/) ## Related quotes > [An artist has got to be careful never really to arrive at a place where he thinks he's AT somewhere. You always have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/an-artist-has-got-to-be-careful-never-really-to-arrive-at-a-place/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [An artist has got to be constantly in a state of becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/an-artist-has-got-to-be-constantly-in-a-state-of-becoming/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I'm the only artist who got paid by Puff, like really, really, paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/i-m-the-only-artist-who-got-paid-by-puff-like-really-really-paid/) [Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/) > [I was an artist before I got into interiors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gauri-khan/i-was-an-artist-before-i-got-into-interiors/) [Gauri Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gauri-khan/) > [A good artist's always got his hand in his zipper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/a-good-artist-s-always-got-his-hand-in-his-zipper/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“When we become acquainted with any person on a human level, even a great enemy, we begin to see that no person is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-become-acquainted-with-any-person-on-a-human-level-even-a/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The churches have no confidence in each other. Why? Because they are acquainted with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-churches-have-no-confidence-in-each-other-why-because-they-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-best-way-to-become-acquainted-with-a-subject-is-to-write-about-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [He that has never known adversity is but half acquainted with others, or with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/he-that-has-never-known-adversity-is-but-half-acquainted-with-others/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Poetry carries its history within it, and it is oral in origin. Its transmission was oral. Its transmission today is still in part oral,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenton/poetry-carries-its-history-within-it-and-it-is-oral-in-origin-its/) [James Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenton/) > [Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then should they become acquainted?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/avarice-and-happiness-never-saw-each-other-how-then-should-they/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [A lot happened in Vancouver. It was my first Western experience. I learned English, which is my second language. I became very acquainted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/a-lot-happened-in-vancouver-it-was-my-first-western-experience-i/) [Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/) > [People are becoming more intimately acquainted with people who are different than them - it's not so unusual anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/people-are-becoming-more-intimately-acquainted-with-people-who-are/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [“personally acquainted with them,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-gaffney/personally-acquainted-with-them/) [Virginia Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-gaffney/) > [“But I believe we don't know folks, we're acquainted with them. There's always something in an individual you ain't never going to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/but-i-believe-we-don-t-know-folks-we-re-acquainted-with-them-there-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) ## More by Chaim Potok > [“DW: Some critics have written that they don’t admire your so-called simple style. You have contended that your writing is a result of much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/dw-some-critics-have-written-that-they-don-t-admire-your-so-called/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“I cannot pray. I talk to God through my sculpture and painting.' 'That's also prayer.' He smiled faintly, the morning sun on his face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/i-cannot-pray-i-talk-to-god-through-my-sculpture-and-painting-that-s/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [I don't work on my Sabbath. I write five-and-a-half or six days a week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/i-don-t-work-on-my-sabbath-i-write-five-and-a-half-or-six-days-a-week/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [And these two elements are at odds with one another because Freud is utterly adversary to almost all the ways of structuring the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/and-these-two-elements-are-at-odds-with-one-another-because-freud-is/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“How should a Jew feel? There we went through the seven gates of hell for matzos. Here I stand in matzos over my head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/how-should-a-jew-feel-there-we-went-through-the-seven-gates-of-hell/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“In our time... a man whose enemies are faceless bureaucrats almost never wins. It is our equivalent to the anger of the gods in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/in-our-time-a-man-whose-enemies-are-faceless-bureaucrats-almost-never/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [Seeds must be sown everywhere. Only some will bear fruit. But there would not be the fruit from the few had the many not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/seeds-must-be-sown-everywhere-only-some-will-bear-fruit-but-there/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“Basically it’s none of our business how somebody manages to grow, if only he does grow, if only we’re on the trail of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/basically-it-s-none-of-our-business-how-somebody-manages-to-grow-if/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“I walked the streets and tasted the golden sun that lay across the city.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/i-walked-the-streets-and-tasted-the-golden-sun-that-lay-across-the/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [What I have in advance are people I want to write about and a problem or problems that I see those people encountering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/what-i-have-in-advance-are-people-i-want-to-write-about-and-a-problem/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“Millions of people can draw. Art is whether there is a scream in you wanting to get out in a special way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/millions-of-people-can-draw-art-is-whether-there-is-a-scream-in-you/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [“When the alternative is possible disaster, a man must gamble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/when-the-alternative-is-possible-disaster-a-man-must-gamble/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [I will go wherever the truth leads me. It is secular scholarship, Rebbe; it is not the scholarship of tradition. In secular scholarship there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/i-will-go-wherever-the-truth-leads-me-it-is-secular-scholarship-rebbe/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [… the world will indulge you just so long Asher Lev. Then it will stop. You will simply have to grow accustomed to that truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/the-world-will-indulge-you-just-so-long-asher-lev-then-it-will-stop/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [No one knows he is fortunate until he becomes unfortunate, that's the way the world is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/no-one-knows-he-is-fortunate-until-he-becomes-unfortunate-that-s-the/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) [Explore all 175 Chaim Potok quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) ## More Acquainted quotes > [“But I believe we don't know folks, we're acquainted with them. There's always something in an individual you ain't never going to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/but-i-believe-we-don-t-know-folks-we-re-acquainted-with-them-there-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [“personally acquainted with them,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-gaffney/personally-acquainted-with-them/) [Virginia Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-gaffney/) > [People are becoming more intimately acquainted with people who are different than them - it's not so unusual anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/people-are-becoming-more-intimately-acquainted-with-people-who-are/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [A lot happened in Vancouver. It was my first Western experience. I learned English, which is my second language. I became very acquainted with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/a-lot-happened-in-vancouver-it-was-my-first-western-experience-i/) [Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/) > [Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then should they become acquainted?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/avarice-and-happiness-never-saw-each-other-how-then-should-they/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Poetry carries its history within it, and it is oral in origin. Its transmission was oral. Its transmission today is still in part oral,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-fenton/poetry-carries-its-history-within-it-and-it-is-oral-in-origin-its/) [James Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-fenton/) > [He that has never known adversity is but half acquainted with others, or with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/he-that-has-never-known-adversity-is-but-half-acquainted-with-others/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-best-way-to-become-acquainted-with-a-subject-is-to-write-about-it/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The churches have no confidence in each other. Why? Because they are acquainted with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-churches-have-no-confidence-in-each-other-why-because-they-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“When we become acquainted with any person on a human level, even a great enemy, we begin to see that no person is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-become-acquainted-with-any-person-on-a-human-level-even-a/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Acquainted with the Night I have been one acquainted with the night. I have walked out in rain—and back in rain. I have outwalked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/acquainted-with-the-night-i-have-been-one-acquainted-with-the-night-i/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [I see by your eagerness, and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be in formed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-see-by-your-eagerness-and-the-wonder-and-hope-which-your-eyes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have had the opportunity to become acquainted with many wonderful people from many walks of life. I have known rich and poor, famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/i-have-had-the-opportunity-to-become-acquainted-with-many-wonderful/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [In friendship, as in love, we are often more happy from the things we are ignorant of than from those we are acquainted with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/in-friendship-as-in-love-we-are-often-more-happy-from-the-things-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [To understand a name you must be acquainted with the particular of which it is a name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-understand-a-name-you-must-be-acquainted-with-the-particular-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Browse all 39 Acquainted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquainted/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“An artist has got to get acquainted with himself just as much as he can. 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