Art Quote by Jack London
““The surpluses will have to be expended somehow, and trust the oligarchs to find a way. Magnificent roads will be built. There will be great achievements in science, and especially in art. When the oligarchs have completely mastered the people, they will have time to spare for other things. They will become worshippers of beauty. They will become art-lovers. And under their direction and generously rewarded, will toil the artists. The result will be great art; for no longer, as up to yesterday, will the artists pander to the bourgeois taste of the middle class. It will be great art, I tell you, and wonder cities will arise that will make tawdry and cheap the cities of old time. And in these cities will the oligarchs dwell and worship beauty””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Future of Oligarchy, 1910
If the ruling elite control resources, they will fund grand projects and indulge in art, creating cities of beauty while artists serve their tastes.
In simple terms: Elite wealth may fund spectacular art and architecture.
Key Takeaway
Expect opulent patronage.
Themes
power
art
future societies
Mood
speculative
critical
Type
visionary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government commissions
- private foundations
- cultural megaprojects
Key Concepts
patronage
elitism
urban design
Questions to Reflect On
- Will beauty thrive under power?
- Can art remain authentic when funded by oligarchs?
A Different Perspective
Art may lose independent voice under elite control.
![“Rosneft, for instance, was mainly built upon capital stolen from [jailed oligarch Mikhail] Khodorkovsky's company, but the IPO was successful with many Western corporations investing in it. This means that it is extremely difficult to detect these assets in their pure form.” quote by Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/60e/garry-kasparov-910_assets_rosneft-for-instance-was-mainly-built-up_824844.jpg)
