--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Artist is no other than he who…" description: "\"The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.\" — e. e. cummings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/e-e-cummings-2586_artist_the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlea_1847654.png" --- # The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has… ![“The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.” quote by e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/e-e-cummings-2586_artist_the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlea_1847654.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/e-e-cummings-2586_artist_the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlea_1847654.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/e-e-cummings-2586_artist_the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlea_1847654.png) > “The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.” [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist must unlearn prior knowledge to discover true self. **In simple terms:** Unlearn to know yourself. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and curiosity. Themes self-discovery creativity learning philosophy growth Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - creative workshops - personal development - educational curricula Key Concepts deconstruction self‑reflection artistic freedom Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs limit your growth? - How can you practice unlearning? A Different Perspective Unlearning can be unsettling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) ## Related quotes > [He who learns death unlearns slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/he-who-learns-death-unlearns-slavery/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [That which anyone has been long learning unwillingly, he unlearns with proportional eagerness and haste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/that-which-anyone-has-been-long-learning-unwillingly-he-unlearns-with/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The most necessary learning is that which unlearns evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antisthenes/the-most-necessary-learning-is-that-which-unlearns-evil/) [Antisthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antisthenes/) > [The mind unlearns with difficulty what it has long learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-mind-unlearns-with-difficulty-what-it-has-long-learned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We, women of one country, Will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-ward-howe/we-women-of-one-country-will-be-too-tender-of-those-of-another/) [Julia Ward Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-ward-howe/) > [Meditation - Before you learn how to meditate, you must unlearn what you think meditation might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/meditation-before-you-learn-how-to-meditate-you-must-unlearn-what-you/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [I tell students, 'If you are learning from YouTube I almost don't want to teach you because what you learn from YouTube it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiri-te-kanawa/i-tell-students-if-you-are-learning-from-youtube-i-almost-don-t-want/) [Kiri Te Kanawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiri-te-kanawa/) > [The mind is slow to unlearn what it learnt early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-elder/the-mind-is-slow-to-unlearn-what-it-learnt-early/) [Seneca the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-elder/) > [To Unlearn is as hard as to Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/to-unlearn-is-as-hard-as-to-learn/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“the illiterate of the future will not be those that cannot read or write. Rather, they will be those that cannot learn, unlearn and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-woodward/the-illiterate-of-the-future-will-not-be-those-that-cannot-read-or/) [J.R. Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-woodward/) > [“I shall unlearn feeling, unlearn my gift. That is greater and harder than what passes there for life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-walcott/i-shall-unlearn-feeling-unlearn-my-gift-that-is-greater-and-harder/) [Derek Walcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-walcott/) > [They who can no longer unlearn have lost the power to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lancaster-spalding/they-who-can-no-longer-unlearn-have-lost-the-power-to-learn/) [John Lancaster Spalding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lancaster-spalding/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“As you unlearn the lies that were unconsciously coded when you were a child and free yourself from the fears and emotions that held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-f-martin/as-you-unlearn-the-lies-that-were-unconsciously-coded-when-you-were-a/) [Brian F. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-f-martin/) > [Any change of government which has to be introduced should be one which men, starting from their existing constitutions, will be both willing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/any-change-of-government-which-has-to-be-introduced-should-be-one/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## More by e. e. cummings > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [“I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-d-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-teach-ten-thousand/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [The intellectuals' chief cause of anguish are one another's works. Jacques Barzun, 1959 all ignorance toboggans into know and trudges up to ignorance again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/the-intellectuals-chief-cause-of-anguish-are-one-another-s-works/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [There is no music unless the drum and the drummer are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/there-is-no-music-unless-the-drum-and-the-drummer-are-one/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [“...for life's not a paragraph/ and death, i think, is no parenthesis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/for-life-s-not-a-paragraph-and-death-i-think-is-no-parenthesis/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [The symbol of all art is the Prism. The goal is unrealism. The method is destructive. To break up the white light of objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/the-symbol-of-all-art-is-the-prism-the-goal-is-unrealism-the-method/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [All ignorance toboggans into know and trudges up to ignorance again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/all-ignorance-toboggans-into-know-and-trudges-up-to-ignorance-again/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [So far as I am concerned, poetry and every other art was and is and forever will be strictly and distinctly a question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/so-far-as-i-am-concerned-poetry-and-every-other-art-was-and-is-and/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [it's spring when the world is puddle-wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/it-s-spring-when-the-world-is-puddle-wonderful/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [Women and men(both little and small) cared for anyone not at all they sowed their isn’t they reaped their same sun moon stars rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/women-and-men-both-little-and-small-cared-for-anyone-not-at-all-they/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [O to be in finland/ now that russia's here)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/o-to-be-in-finland-now-that-russia-s-here/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [wholly to be a fool while Spring is in the world my blood approves, and kisses are a far better fate than wisdom lady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/wholly-to-be-a-fool-while-spring-is-in-the-world-my-blood-approves-2/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [Art is a mystery. A mystery is something immeasurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/art-is-a-mystery-a-mystery-is-something-immeasurable/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [one day anyone died i guess (and noone stooped to kiss his face) busy folk buried them side by side little by little and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/one-day-anyone-died-i-guess-and-noone-stooped-to-kiss-his-face-busy/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [“sweet spring is your time is my time is our time for springtime is lovetime and viva sweet love (all the merry little birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/sweet-spring-is-your-time-is-my-time-is-our-time-for-springtime-is/) [E. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) [Explore all 159 e. e. cummings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) ## 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": "The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "e. e. cummings" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlearns-what-he-has-learned-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlearns-what-he-has-learned-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/e-e-cummings-2586_artist_the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlea_1847654.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/e-e-cummings-2586_artist_the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlea_1847654.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/e-e-cummings-2586_artist_the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlea_1847654.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.” — e. e. cummings", "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": "e. e. cummings", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Artist is no other than...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlearns-what-he-has-learned-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/the-artist-is-no-other-than-he-who-unlearns-what-he-has-learned-in/#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 } } ] } ```