--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an artist grows older, he has to fight…" description: "\"As an artist grows older, he has to fight disillusionment and learn to establish the same relation to nature as an adult, as he had when a child\" — Cha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-e-burchfield-53502_adults_as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight_974459.png" --- # As an artist grows older, he has to fight disillusionment… ![“As an artist grows older, he has to fight disillusionment and learn to establish the same relation to nature as an adult, as he had when a child” quote by Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-e-burchfield-53502_adults_as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight_974459.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-e-burchfield-53502_adults_as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight_974459.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-e-burchfield-53502_adults_as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight_974459.png) > “As an artist grows older, he has to fight disillusionment and learn to establish the same relation to nature as an adult, as he had when a child” [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) ## 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 confront disillusionment with age, relearning a childlike wonder toward nature to keep their work alive. **In simple terms:** Aging artists need to rediscover childlike wonder. Key Takeaway Cultivate wonder to avoid disillusionment. Themes art aging nature wonder disillusionment Mood nostalgic inspirational Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - painting - writing - teaching - environmental advocacy - personal growth Key Concepts creative renewal psychology of aging Questions to Reflect On - How can you reconnect with nature’s simplicity? - What habits preserve childlike curiosity? A Different Perspective Maintaining wonder can be hard amid responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Aging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aging/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Disillusionment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disillusionment/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aroha-janet/all-children-are-artists-the-problem-is-how-to-remain-an-artist-once-2/) [Aroha Janet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aroha-janet/) > [All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/all-children-are-artists-the-problem-is-how-to-remain-an-artist-once/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“by Picasso: ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once one grows up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/by-picasso-every-child-is-an-artist-the-problem-is-how-to-remain-an/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Through education comes understanding. Through understanding comes true appreciation. All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/through-education-comes-understanding-through-understanding-comes/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/every-child-is-an-artist-the-problem-is-how-to-remain-an-artist-once/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I don't want to compare myself to Picasso, but he had four or five periods in his life. Any good artist grows and changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/i-don-t-want-to-compare-myself-to-picasso-but-he-had-four-or-five/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [Just as theater has to be where people live, actors have to go out in the marketplace - not be cut off by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waite/just-as-theater-has-to-be-where-people-live-actors-have-to-go-out-in/) [Ralph Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waite/) > [Arguably, no artist grows up: If he sheds the perceptions of childhood, he ceases being an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-rorem/arguably-no-artist-grows-up-if-he-sheds-the-perceptions-of-childhood/) [Ned Rorem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-rorem/) > [I sometimes imagine that as one grows older one comes to live a role which as a young person one merely 'played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-sometimes-imagine-that-as-one-grows-older-one-comes-to-live-a-role/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [“The boy will grow older, and over time there will be other songs – not many – ten or maybe twenty in a lifespan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/the-boy-will-grow-older-and-over-time-there-will-be-other-songs-not/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [ “As the world grows older there is loss and gain - let us not with modern insolence and blindness imagine it all gain; \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/as-the-world-grows-older-there-is-loss-and-gain-let-us-not-with/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [It is best as one grows older to strip oneself of possessions, to shed oneself downward like a tree, to be almost wholly earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/it-is-best-as-one-grows-older-to-strip-oneself-of-possessions-to-shed/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [As one grows older one must try not to work oneself to death unnecessarily. At least that's how it is with me... I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/as-one-grows-older-one-must-try-not-to-work-oneself-to-death/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [As a man grows older it is harder and harder to frighten him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/as-a-man-grows-older-it-is-harder-and-harder-to-frighten-him/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [The heart never grows better by age; I fear rather worse, always harder. A young liar will be an old one, and a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-heart-never-grows-better-by-age-i-fear-rather-worse-always-harder/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Charles E. Burchfield > [Doodling serves as a means of keeping the hand or fingers limber, so that they are always ready for serious work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/doodling-serves-as-a-means-of-keeping-the-hand-or-fingers-limber-so/) [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) > [Get yourself to a vantage point of seclusion and view the world with your eyes alone. Think of the infinite spaces of the skies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/get-yourself-to-a-vantage-point-of-seclusion-and-view-the-world-with/) [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) > [It seems at times I should be a composer of sounds, not only of rhythms and colors. Walking under the trees, I felt as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/it-seems-at-times-i-should-be-a-composer-of-sounds-not-only-of/) [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) > [An artist finds his happiest combination in a play of complementary colors. They are direct contrasts yet do not jar; they awaken the beholder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/an-artist-finds-his-happiest-combination-in-a-play-of-complementary/) [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) > [Before starting work go thru all the former material. Many things of vital importance have been lost sight of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/before-starting-work-go-thru-all-the-former-material-many-things-of/) [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) [Explore all 6 Charles E. Burchfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) K. Anders Ericsson > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an artist grows older, he has to fight disillusionment and learn to establish the same relation to nature as an adult, as he had when a child", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles E. Burchfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight-disillusionment-and-learn-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adults" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight-disillusionment-and-learn-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-e-burchfield-53502_adults_as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight_974459.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-e-burchfield-53502_adults_as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight_974459.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-e-burchfield-53502_adults_as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight_974459.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As an artist grows older, he has to fight disillusionment and learn to establish the same relation to nature…” — Charles E. Burchfield", "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": "Charles E. Burchfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As an artist grows older, he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight-disillusionment-and-learn-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/as-an-artist-grows-older-he-has-to-fight-disillusionment-and-learn-to/#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 } } ] } ```