--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine if all those kings and dukes…" description: "\"Imagine if all those kings and dukes hadn't commissioned those crazy cathedrals, paintings and music... we'd still be living in sticks and mud. Because..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/ha-joon-chang-3497_any_imagine-if-all-those-kings-and-dukes-had_1507059.png" --- # Imagine if all those kings and dukes hadn't commissioned… ![“Imagine if all those kings and dukes hadn't commissioned those crazy cathedrals, paintings and music... we'd still be living in sticks and mud. Because none of those things made any economic sense. Human beings' capacity to 'waste time' is a miracle - but that's exactly what art is for.” quote by Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/ha-joon-chang-3497_any_imagine-if-all-those-kings-and-dukes-had_1507059.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/ha-joon-chang-3497_any_imagine-if-all-those-kings-and-dukes-had_1507059.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/ha-joon-chang-3497_any_imagine-if-all-those-kings-and-dukes-had_1507059.png) > “Imagine if all those kings and dukes hadn't commissioned those crazy cathedrals, paintings and music... we'd still be living in sticks and mud. Because none of those things made any economic sense. Human beings' capacity to 'waste time' is a miracle - but that's exactly what art is for.” [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art, though economically irrational, is essential because it reflects humanity's unique ability to spend time creatively. **In simple terms:** Art is a valuable waste of time. Key Takeaway Embrace creative pursuits despite economic logic. Themes art culture human creativity Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Museum visits - art education - public funding for arts - personal creative projects Key Concepts Economic irrationality miracle of waste creative expression Questions to Reflect On - Why is creative waste vital for society? - How can policy support non‑economic value of art? A Different Perspective Economic pressures may undervalue art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Cathedrals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cathedrals/) [Commissioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commissioned/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Paintings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paintings/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-time/) ## Related quotes > [If female were working in the same proportion as men do, the level of GDP would be up 27 percent in a country like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/if-female-were-working-in-the-same-proportion-as-men-do-the-level-of/) [Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/) > [The extent to which all people in our society are made to count, and believe that they count, is not just a measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcaleese/the-extent-to-which-all-people-in-our-society-are-made-to-count-and/) [Mary McAleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcaleese/) > [We must prepare the ground for creativity. 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