--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was practically driven to Rome in order…" description: "\"I was practically driven to Rome in order to obtain the opportunities for art culture and to find a social atmosphere where I was not constantly remind..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/edmonia-lewis-38617_art_i-was-practically-driven-to-rome-in-orde_3199340.png" --- # I was practically driven to Rome in order to obtain the… ![“I was practically driven to Rome in order to obtain the opportunities for art culture and to find a social atmosphere where I was not constantly reminded of my color. The land of liberty had no room for a colored sculptor.” quote by Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/edmonia-lewis-38617_art_i-was-practically-driven-to-rome-in-orde_3199340.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/edmonia-lewis-38617_art_i-was-practically-driven-to-rome-in-orde_3199340.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/edmonia-lewis-38617_art_i-was-practically-driven-to-rome-in-orde_3199340.png) > “I was practically driven to Rome in order to obtain the opportunities for art culture and to find a social atmosphere where I was not constantly reminded of my color. The land of liberty had no room for a colored sculptor.” [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker felt excluded from artistic and social circles because of racial prejudice, despite seeking freedom and cultural enrichment. **In simple terms:** Racial bias limited artistic opportunities. Key Takeaway Seek inclusive environments. Themes racism art freedom Mood reflective determined Type critical historical When to use this quote - museum work - art schools - community projects - activism Key Concepts social exclusion identity colonialism Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions become truly inclusive? - What steps can artists of color take to find supportive spaces? A Different Perspective Systemic bias often persists despite proclaimed liberty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rome/) ## Related quotes > [My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing . . . Long may our land be bright, With freedom's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-francis-smith/my-country-tis-of-thee-sweet-land-of-liberty-of-thee-i-sing-long-may/) [Samuel Francis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-francis-smith/) > [“The eternal raison d'etre of America is in its being the "sweet land of liberty". Should a land so dreamed into existence, so degenerate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-norris/the-eternal-raison-d-etre-of-america-is-in-its-being-the-sweet-land/) [Frank Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-norris/) > [O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/o-let-my-land-be-a-land-where-liberty-is-crowned-with-no-false/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/my-country-tis-of-thee-sweet-land-of-liberty-of-thee-i-sing-land-2/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Our Father in Heaven planned the coming forth of the Founding Fathersand their form of government as the necessary great prologue leading to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/our-father-in-heaven-planned-the-coming-forth-of-the-founding/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [New skin, a new land! And a land of liberty, if that is possible! I chose the geology of a land that was new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/new-skin-a-new-land-and-a-land-of-liberty-if-that-is-possible-i-chose/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [May our land be a land of liberty, the seat of virtue, the asylum of the oppressed, a name and a praise in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-warren/may-our-land-be-a-land-of-liberty-the-seat-of-virtue-the-asylum-of/) [Joseph Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-warren/) > [“America was the land of liberty--and liberty had come to mean the right to disregard the rights of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-hastings/america-was-the-land-of-liberty-and-liberty-had-come-to-mean-the/) Milo Hastings > [England has been called, with great felicity of conception, 'the land of liberty and good sense.' We have preserved many of the advantages of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/england-has-been-called-with-great-felicity-of-conception-the-land-of/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [America the Beautiful, or so you used to be, Land of the Pilgrims' pride, I'm glad they're not here to see, Babies piled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-moore/america-the-beautiful-or-so-you-used-to-be-land-of-the-pilgrims-pride/) [Roy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-moore/) > [Everything in Rome has its price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/everything-in-rome-has-its-price/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [“The central government was a despotism tempered by military rebellion and assassination and replacement of one scurvy lot of ruling dynasts by another. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/the-central-government-was-a-despotism-tempered-by-military-rebellion/) [Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) > [Even Rome cannot grant us a dispensation from death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/even-rome-cannot-grant-us-a-dispensation-from-death/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Rome, believe me, my friend, is like its own Monte Testaceo, Merelya marvellous mass of broken and castaway wine-pots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-hugh-clough/rome-believe-me-my-friend-is-like-its-own-monte-testaceo-merelya/) [Arthur Hugh Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-hugh-clough/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Edmonia Lewis > [I don't want you to praise me...Some praise me because I am a colored girl, and I don't want that kind of praise. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/i-don-t-want-you-to-praise-me-some-praise-me-because-i-am-a-colored/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [No, I have not a drop of what they call white blood in my veins. My father was a full blooded Negro, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/no-i-have-not-a-drop-of-what-they-call-white-blood-in-my-veins-my/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [Some praise me because I am a colored girl, and I don't want that kind of praise. I had rather you would point out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/some-praise-me-because-i-am-a-colored-girl-and-i-don-t-want-that-kind/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [One day, I saw a statue of Benjamin Franklin, and I said to myself, 'I can do that kind of work, too.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/one-day-i-saw-a-statue-of-benjamin-franklin-and-i-said-to-myself-i/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [Sometimes the times were dark and the outlook was lonesome, but where there is a will, there is a way. I pitched in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/sometimes-the-times-were-dark-and-the-outlook-was-lonesome-but-where/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [There is nothing so beautiful as the free forest. To catch a fish when you are hungry, cut the boughs of a tree, make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/there-is-nothing-so-beautiful-as-the-free-forest-to-catch-a-fish-when/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [I have a strong sympathy for all women who have struggled and suffered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/i-have-a-strong-sympathy-for-all-women-who-have-struggled-and-suffered/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [I thought I knew everything when I came to Rome, but I soon found I had everything to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/i-thought-i-knew-everything-when-i-came-to-rome-but-i-soon-found-i/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [My features I take from my father, but my spirit, my industry and perseverance I get from my Indian mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/my-features-i-take-from-my-father-but-my-spirit-my-industry-and/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) > [Until I was twelve years old, I led this wandering life, fishing, swimming, and making moccasins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmonia-lewis/until-i-was-twelve-years-old-i-led-this-wandering-life-fishing/) [Edmonia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) [Explore all 11 Edmonia Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmonia-lewis/) ## 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 > [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": "I was practically driven to Rome in order to obtain the opportunities for art culture and to find a social atmosphere where I was not constantly reminded of my color. 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