--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to make a difference with…" description: "\"If you want to make a difference with art, which is a motive I perceive as questionable, then the single most stupid approach would be to tell people o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/hito-steyerl-21904_art_if-you-want-to-make-a-difference-with-ar_1179884.jpg" --- # If you want to make a difference with art, which is a… ![“If you want to make a difference with art, which is a motive I perceive as questionable, then the single most stupid approach would be to tell people off. It would be a surefire way not to get through to people.” quote by Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/hito-steyerl-21904_art_if-you-want-to-make-a-difference-with-ar_1179884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/hito-steyerl-21904_art_if-you-want-to-make-a-difference-with-ar_1179884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e1/hito-steyerl-21904_art_if-you-want-to-make-a-difference-with-ar_1179884.jpg) > “If you want to make a difference with art, which is a motive I perceive as questionable, then the single most stupid approach would be to tell people off. It would be a surefire way not to get through to people.” [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to provoke through aggression often alienates audiences, undermining the intended impact of the artwork. **In simple terms:** Aggressive art can backfire. Key Takeaway Use subtlety to engage. Themes art activism communication effectiveness Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public installations - social media campaigns - community workshops Key Concepts critical theory social change audience reception Questions to Reflect On - What alternative methods could convey the message? - How can empathy enhance artistic impact? A Different Perspective Direct confrontation may reinforce resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Make a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-a-difference/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) ## Related quotes > [It's just like they approach things on every movie I've worked on, very much as if it was a live-action movie. The character you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/it-s-just-like-they-approach-things-on-every-movie-i-ve-worked-on/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [Anything to make a difference and to seek consensus on an issue is something that I feel strongly about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/anything-to-make-a-difference-and-to-seek-consensus-on-an-issue-is/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [We're going to do our best to help youth feel safe and accepted, so that they have the skills to effect change and recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-germanotta/we-re-going-to-do-our-best-to-help-youth-feel-safe-and-accepted-so/) [Cynthia Germanotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-germanotta/) > [“You have to direct change; if you don't do so, change will direct you. Guess... the direction change will offer you is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-have-to-direct-change-if-you-don-t-do-so-change-will-direct-you/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I'm always on the prowl for the kinds of recordings that can inspire and potentially make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-m-always-on-the-prowl-for-the-kinds-of-recordings-that-can-inspire/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [There is nobody called Test bowler, one day bowler or T20 bowler. It just how you adapt and make a difference to your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/there-is-nobody-called-test-bowler-one-day-bowler-or-t20-bowler-it/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [When you encourage others, you, in the process, are encouraged because you're making a commitment and difference in that person's life. Encouragement really does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/when-you-encourage-others-you-in-the-process-are-encouraged-because/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Does it make a difference if I score 8000 or 10,000 runs in Test cricket? Not in anybody's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/does-it-make-a-difference-if-i-score-8000-or-10-000-runs-in-test/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [“You can choose when and when not to be stopped... Choose to be stopped after you die... when your work is done and done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-can-choose-when-and-when-not-to-be-stopped-choose-to-be-stopped/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Writing children's books all started out as a way for me to give back and make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coy-bowles/writing-children-s-books-all-started-out-as-a-way-for-me-to-give-back/) [Coy Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coy-bowles/) > [“Some people die and you realize that the only mark they left on earth are the tomb stones under which they lie. The impacts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/some-people-die-and-you-realize-that-the-only-mark-they-left-on-earth/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I just try to find things that either need to be done, should be done, or where I can make a difference in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-just-try-to-find-things-that-either-need-to-be-done-should-be-done/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [It is our job to make a difference and leave the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-g/it-is-our-job-to-make-a-difference-and-leave-the-world-a-better-place/) [Karol G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-g/) > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [I like candidates who tell me something that is going to make a difference to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/i-like-candidates-who-tell-me-something-that-is-going-to-make-a/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) ## More by Hito Steyerl > [Inequality is pervasive but invisible. It's hard to see. You need a sort of tool to make it visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/inequality-is-pervasive-but-invisible-it-s-hard-to-see-you-need-a/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [Most of my work has always been online. But I try not to share it on commercial or corporate platforms, so you will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/most-of-my-work-has-always-been-online-but-i-try-not-to-share-it-on/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I don't think the Internet or a big digital corporation will manage to capture all of human relations. It's too boring. After a while,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/i-don-t-think-the-internet-or-a-big-digital-corporation-will-manage/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I'm trying to find ways to transform parts of the art world into something more productive or more satisfying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/i-m-trying-to-find-ways-to-transform-parts-of-the-art-world-into/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [We need, let's say, municipal digital platforms, for teaching, for schooling, for education, but also, of course, for the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/we-need-let-s-say-municipal-digital-platforms-for-teaching-for/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I don't like being lectured - and I expect my viewers don't either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/i-don-t-like-being-lectured-and-i-expect-my-viewers-don-t-either/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I've always been interested in exploring technique in relation to technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-exploring-technique-in-relation-to/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [As a dialectical materialist, I do not believe that social contradictions can be solved individually. On the other hand, if you give up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/as-a-dialectical-materialist-i-do-not-believe-that-social/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [To brutally summarise a lot of scholarly texts, contemporary art is made possible by neoliberal capital, plus the Internet, biennials, art fairs, parallel pop-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/to-brutally-summarise-a-lot-of-scholarly-texts-contemporary-art-is/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I like the combination of two different ideas that connect at an unexpected level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/i-like-the-combination-of-two-different-ideas-that-connect-at-an/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I never got into being an artist. For me, it's always more research, storytelling, maybe technological experimental. It's more like a laboratory setting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/i-never-got-into-being-an-artist-for-me-it-s-always-more-research/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [What institutions or galleries assume is that videos are available and that they can just stream them for free without taking into account any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/what-institutions-or-galleries-assume-is-that-videos-are-available/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I am focusing more on finding ways to improve situations rather than creating evidence or doing any form of consciousness-raising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/i-am-focusing-more-on-finding-ways-to-improve-situations-rather-than/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [Life is just embarrassing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/life-is-just-embarrassing/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) > [I don't want to make films that are so specialized that they're only accessible to people with prior knowledge or histories or references.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hito-steyerl/i-don-t-want-to-make-films-that-are-so-specialized-that-they-re-only/) [Hito Steyerl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) [Explore all 27 Hito Steyerl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hito-steyerl/) ## 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": "If you want to make a difference with art, which is a motive I perceive as questionable, then the single most stupid approach would be to tell people off. 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