--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the…" description: "\"Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the well-fed.\" — Frank Lloyd Wright" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_art_art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-th_2009184.jpg" --- # Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the well-fed. ![“Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the well-fed.” quote by Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_art_art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-th_2009184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_art_art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-th_2009184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_art_art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-th_2009184.jpg) > “Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the well-fed.” [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art created solely for its own sake serves only those who are already privileged. **In simple terms:** Art for art’s sake benefits the well‑fed. Key Takeaway Consider purpose in creation. Themes art elitism purpose Mood critical inquisitive Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - education - policy - creative industries - public funding Key Concepts cultural critique social equity Questions to Reflect On - Should art serve society? - How can art be inclusive? A Different Perspective Pure aestheticism can ignore social needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-sake-561573/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Fed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-fed-3578812/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Sake Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake-philosophy-3578813/) ## Related quotes > [Art for art's sake is dead, if it ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/art-for-art-s-sake-is-dead-if-it-ever-lived/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [The idea of "making art for art's sake" makes no sense for me. Each area of my life, all the roles I play, influences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sollee/the-idea-of-making-art-for-art-s-sake-makes-no-sense-for-me-each-area/) [Ben Sollee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sollee/) > [I mean, art for art's sake is ridiculous. Art is for the sake of one's needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-andre/i-mean-art-for-art-s-sake-is-ridiculous-art-is-for-the-sake-of-one-s/) [Carl Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-andre/) > [There's no making art for art's sake. You've got to make the best art you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/there-s-no-making-art-for-art-s-sake-you-ve-got-to-make-the-best-art/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [If an Artist love his Art for its own sake, he will delight in excellence wherever he meets it, as well in the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-allston/if-an-artist-love-his-art-for-its-own-sake-he-will-delight-in/) [Washington Allston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-allston/) > [Although I do not care for the slogan "art for art's sake", there can be no question that what makes a work of fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/although-i-do-not-care-for-the-slogan-art-for-art-s-sake-there-can-be/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [In art school we're always taught that art is an end in itself - art for art's sake, expressing yourself, and that that's enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-drooker/in-art-school-we-re-always-taught-that-art-is-an-end-in-itself-art/) [Eric Drooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-drooker/) > [It's not art for art's sake, it's art for my sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-art-for-art-s-sake-it-s-art-for-my-sake/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Art for art's sake? I should think so, and more so than ever at the present time. It is the one orderly product which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/art-for-art-s-sake-i-should-think-so-and-more-so-than-ever-at-the/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [The syllogism art for art's sake refers to that kind of painting which disregards, or is contrary to, public taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/the-syllogism-art-for-art-s-sake-refers-to-that-kind-of-painting/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [This idea of art for art's sake is a hoax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/this-idea-of-art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-hoax/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I know there are some labels that put out music for art's sake, but I don't know which ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-know-there-are-some-labels-that-put-out-music-for-art-s-sake-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A public that tries to do without criticism, and asserts that it knows what it wants or likes, brutalizes the arts and loses its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/a-public-that-tries-to-do-without-criticism-and-asserts-that-it-knows/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“Art for Art’s Sake is for the well fed. The well fed are all the babies in cradles and my kitty along with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-biyuts/art-for-art-s-sake-is-for-the-well-fed-the-well-fed-are-all-the/) [Lara Biyuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-biyuts/) > [Art for art's sake makes no more sense than gin for gin's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/art-for-art-s-sake-makes-no-more-sense-than-gin-for-gin-s-sake/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) ## More by Frank Lloyd Wright > [From time to time the continent shifts, and everything that isn't fastened down slides into Southern California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/from-time-to-time-the-continent-shifts-and-everything-that-isn-t/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Respect the masterpiece. It is true reverence to man. There is no quality so great, none so much needed now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/respect-the-masterpiece-it-is-true-reverence-to-man-there-is-no/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/nature-is-my-manifestation-of-god-i-go-to-nature-every-day-for/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Each had his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart; and his friends could only read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/each-had-his-past-shut-in-him-like-the-leaves-of-a-book-known-to-him/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“How many understand that Nature is the essencial character of whatever is. It's something you'll find by looking not at, but in, always in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/how-many-understand-that-nature-is-the-essencial-character-of/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [The cultural influences in our country are like the floo floo bird. I am referring to the peculiar and especial bird who always flew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/the-cultural-influences-in-our-country-are-like-the-floo-floo-bird-i/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Early in life, I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose honest arrogance and have seen no occasion to change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/early-in-life-i-had-to-choose-between-honest-arrogance-and/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [The Lincoln Memorial is related to the toga and the civilization that wore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/the-lincoln-memorial-is-related-to-the-toga-and-the-civilization-that/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [The belief in a thing makes it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/the-belief-in-a-thing-makes-it-happen/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“give me the luxuries of life and I will gladly do without the necessities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/give-me-the-luxuries-of-life-and-i-will-gladly-do-without-the/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [It's easier to make changes with a pencil than a wrecking bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/it-s-easier-to-make-changes-with-a-pencil-than-a-wrecking-bar/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Life always rides in strength to victory, not through internationalism... but only through the direct responsibility of the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/life-always-rides-in-strength-to-victory-not-through-internationalism/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [A man is a fool if he drinks before he reaches fifty, and a fool if he doesn't drink afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/a-man-is-a-fool-if-he-drinks-before-he-reaches-fifty-and-a-fool-if-he/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [Entering into the spirit of this interior, you will discover the best possible atmosphere in which to show fine paintings or listen to music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/entering-into-the-spirit-of-this-interior-you-will-discover-the-best/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [A great architect is not made by way of a brain nearly so much as he is made by way of a cultivated, enriched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/a-great-architect-is-not-made-by-way-of-a-brain-nearly-so-much-as-he/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) [Explore all 251 Frank Lloyd Wright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) ## 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": "Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the well-fed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Lloyd Wright" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-the-well-fed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-the-well-fed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_art_art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-th_2009184.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_art_art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-th_2009184.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/frank-lloyd-wright-1353_art_art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-th_2009184.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Art for art's sake is a philosophy of the well-fed.” — Frank Lloyd Wright", "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": "Frank Lloyd Wright", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Art for art's sake is a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-the-well-fed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/art-for-art-s-sake-is-a-philosophy-of-the-well-fed/#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 } } ] } ```