--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are both a work of art and an artist…" description: "\"You are both a work of art and an artist at work.\" — Erwin McManus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/erwin-mcmanus-4838_art_you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist_1055092.png" --- # You are both a work of art and an artist at work. ![“You are both a work of art and an artist at work.” quote by Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/erwin-mcmanus-4838_art_you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist_1055092.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/erwin-mcmanus-4838_art_you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist_1055092.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/erwin-mcmanus-4838_art_you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist_1055092.png) > “You are both a work of art and an artist at work.” [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You are simultaneously a creation and a creator, shaping your own existence. **In simple terms:** You are art and artist. Key Takeaway Embrace creative agency. Themes identity creativity self‑actualization Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - career development - artistic projects - leadership Key Concepts philosophy self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - In what ways are you shaping your life? - How can you nurture both roles? A Different Perspective Assuming everyone can be both may overlook structural constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-artist-677257/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-work/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-art/) [Works of art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-of-art/) ## Related quotes > [In every work of art, the artist himself is present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-morgenstern/in-every-work-of-art-the-artist-himself-is-present/) [Christian Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-morgenstern/) > [Man is no longer an artist, he has become a work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-is-no-longer-an-artist-he-has-become-a-work-of-art/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [You are an artist. What work of art will you leave behind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/you-are-an-artist-what-work-of-art-will-you-leave-behind/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [A work of art, so far as it is a work of art, cannot - whatever the artist's personal intention - advocate anything at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/a-work-of-art-so-far-as-it-is-a-work-of-art-cannot-whatever-the/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [“An artist is someone who makes art;only artist can create a work of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asaid/an-artist-is-someone-who-makes-art-only-artist-can-create-a-work-of/) [ASAID](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asaid/) > [“He is both the artist and the work of art. He sees beauty, he creates beauty, and he is beauty. He is the lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisa-lorello/he-is-both-the-artist-and-the-work-of-art-he-sees-beauty-he-creates/) [Elisa Lorello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisa-lorello/) > [Seizing new ground, making connections between people or ideas, working without a map-these are works of art, and if you do them, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/seizing-new-ground-making-connections-between-people-or-ideas-working/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Society takes what it wants. The artist himself does not count, because there is no actual existence for the work of art. The work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/society-takes-what-it-wants-the-artist-himself-does-not-count-because/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [We have nothing to lose, nothing to gain, nothing we desired anymore- except to make our lives into a work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/we-have-nothing-to-lose-nothing-to-gain-nothing-we-desired-anymore/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/all-art-is-at-once-surface-and-symbol-those-who-go-beneath-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A work of art is itself an object, first of all, and so manipulation is unavoidable: it's a prerequisite. But I needed the greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/a-work-of-art-is-itself-an-object-first-of-all-and-so-manipulation-is/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Mystery is the essential element of every work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/mystery-is-the-essential-element-of-every-work-of-art/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [Art goes on in your head. If you said something interesting, that might be a title for a work of art and I'd write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/art-goes-on-in-your-head-if-you-said-something-interesting-that-might/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [The ultimate justification of the work of art is to help the spectator to become a work of art himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/the-ultimate-justification-of-the-work-of-art-is-to-help-the/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [A work of art doesn't exist outside the perception of the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/a-work-of-art-doesn-t-exist-outside-the-perception-of-the-audience/) [Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/) ## More by Erwin McManus > [I guess when I really think about it, God's voice sounds a lot like my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/i-guess-when-i-really-think-about-it-god-s-voice-sounds-a-lot-like-my/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [When we lack integrity, we use power to control. When we lead with integrity, we use power to bless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/when-we-lack-integrity-we-use-power-to-control-when-we-lead-with/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [The shape of your character is the shape of your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/the-shape-of-your-character-is-the-shape-of-your-future/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [You need to remember who God is, forget the painful wounds and let Him renew you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/you-need-to-remember-who-god-is-forget-the-painful-wounds-and-let-him/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [It’s a wonderful thing when you look inside your own heart and like what you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/it-s-a-wonderful-thing-when-you-look-inside-your-own-heart-and-like/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [I think Christianity is the same as Buddhism and Hinduism - whenever a religion begins to say that these are the things you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/i-think-christianity-is-the-same-as-buddhism-and-hinduism-whenever-a/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [The world doesn't need more great leaders, it needs more great people who lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/the-world-doesn-t-need-more-great-leaders-it-needs-more-great-people/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Deeper than our instinct to live is our longing to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/deeper-than-our-instinct-to-live-is-our-longing-to-be-alive/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Faith is the determination to create with our lives what only our hearts can conceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/faith-is-the-determination-to-create-with-our-lives-what-only-our/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [How in the world could you ever imagine a life of faith that does not require risk? Faith and risk are inseparable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/how-in-the-world-could-you-ever-imagine-a-life-of-faith-that-does-not/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Greatness comes with discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/greatness-comes-with-discipline/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Love, no matter how you come at it, is a huge risk. It makes it easier for me to remember that God will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/love-no-matter-how-you-come-at-it-is-a-huge-risk-it-makes-it-easier/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [My goal is to destroy Christianity as a world religion and be a recatalyst for the movement of Jesus Christ ... Some people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/my-goal-is-to-destroy-christianity-as-a-world-religion-and-be-a/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [So many of us have abdicated our passions for obligations, as if passion is a luxury for the young, and we must all grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/so-many-of-us-have-abdicated-our-passions-for-obligations-as-if/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Truth should never travel faster than love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/truth-should-never-travel-faster-than-love/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) [Explore all 106 Erwin McManus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "You are both a work of art and an artist at work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erwin McManus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist-at-work/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist-at-work/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/erwin-mcmanus-4838_art_you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist_1055092.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/erwin-mcmanus-4838_art_you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist_1055092.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30b/erwin-mcmanus-4838_art_you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist_1055092.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You are both a work of art and an artist at work.” — Erwin McManus", "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": "Erwin McManus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You are both a work of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist-at-work/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/you-are-both-a-work-of-art-and-an-artist-at-work/#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 } } ] } ```