--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's so many bigger things in the…" description: "\"There's so many bigger things in the world. The art world is such a tiny little thing compared to wars and migration crises. It's weird to be self-abso..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/jim-shaw-31101_art_there-s-so-many-bigger-things-in-the-wor_836997.jpg" --- # There's so many bigger things in the world. The art world… ![“There's so many bigger things in the world. The art world is such a tiny little thing compared to wars and migration crises. It's weird to be self-absorbed in it.” quote by Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/jim-shaw-31101_art_there-s-so-many-bigger-things-in-the-wor_836997.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/jim-shaw-31101_art_there-s-so-many-bigger-things-in-the-wor_836997.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f86/jim-shaw-31101_art_there-s-so-many-bigger-things-in-the-wor_836997.jpg) > “There's so many bigger things in the world. The art world is such a tiny little thing compared to wars and migration crises. It's weird to be self-absorbed in it.” [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The art world is minor compared to global crises; focusing solely on art can seem self‑absorbed. **In simple terms:** Art is small in the grand scheme. Key Takeaway Balance art with broader concerns. Themes art world events priority humility social responsibility Mood thoughtful critical humble Type analysis ethical reflective When to use this quote - activism - public policy - education reform - media coverage Key Concepts ethical criticism global awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can art address larger societal issues? - What responsibilities do artists have in times of crisis? A Different Perspective Art can still inspire change despite its size. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-world/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Migration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/migration/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self absorbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-absorbed/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest art in the world is the art of storytelling,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-b-demille/the-greatest-art-in-the-world-is-the-art-of-storytelling/) [Cecil B. DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-b-demille/) > [The art world is a bit smaller than the music world, and the music world is a bit smaller than the cinema world. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-prince/the-art-world-is-a-bit-smaller-than-the-music-world-and-the-music/) [Richard Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-prince/) > [The world of art is not a world of immortality but of metamorphosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/the-world-of-art-is-not-a-world-of-immortality-but-of-metamorphosis/) [Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/) > [“Penny Arcade said: At that time, the DRUG world and the ART world ran through each other. (1971 - 1974)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/legs-mcneil/penny-arcade-said-at-that-time-the-drug-world-and-the-art-world-ran/) [Legs McNeil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/legs-mcneil/) > [It makes me happy to think that this world of art-as-investment is a minuscule fraction of the art world overall. Most people who create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-davidson/it-makes-me-happy-to-think-that-this-world-of-art-as-investment-is-a/) [Adam Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-davidson/) > [“If I could remove one thing from the world and replace it with something else, I would erase politics and put art in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-i-could-remove-one-thing-from-the-world-and-replace-it-with/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [The older I get, the more I'm conscious of ways very small things can make a change in the world. Tiny little things, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-m-conscious-of-ways-very-small-things-can/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [“I am more aware of the world now, the tiny insignificant things especially. I am beginning to be more childlike. For an artist this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-debaggio/i-am-more-aware-of-the-world-now-the-tiny-insignificant-things/) Thomas DeBaggio > [The world is MADE up of language. We can SAY that the world is composed of little demons doing calisthenics, each one the size…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-world-is-made-up-of-language-we-can-say-that-the-world-is/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Either the world is so tiny or we are enormous; in either case, we fill it completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/either-the-world-is-so-tiny-or-we-are-enormous-in-either-case-we-fill/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [“Sometimes I feel so alone in the world. A tiny speck of nothing in a sea of emptiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwyna-hughes/sometimes-i-feel-so-alone-in-the-world-a-tiny-speck-of-nothing-in-a/) Edwyna Hughes > [I realized that I wasn't naturally born to good taste. I understand what it is, but I am happy to wear bright colors. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-realized-that-i-wasn-t-naturally-born-to-good-taste-i-understand/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [The place we want to explore unpleasantness in the real world is in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teller/the-place-we-want-to-explore-unpleasantness-in-the-real-world-is-in/) [Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teller/) > [In the world of art, as in the whole of creation, freedom and progress are the main objectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/in-the-world-of-art-as-in-the-whole-of-creation-freedom-and-progress/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [At one point cinema and photography weren't treated as art. Now it's crazy to think they're not. The key question is "What is art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/at-one-point-cinema-and-photography-weren-t-treated-as-art-now-it-s/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) ## More by Jim Shaw > [When you're younger, you go out and you're convivial because you have to be. But once you don't have to meet people anymore, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/when-you-re-younger-you-go-out-and-you-re-convivial-because-you-have/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [There's a lot of different kinds of success. I'm so dedicated to the making of the art that the rest of my life atrophies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/there-s-a-lot-of-different-kinds-of-success-i-m-so-dedicated-to-the/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [Warhol was a prime example of a schizoid person. Maybe he had Asperger's, or maybe he was just an amorous human being on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/warhol-was-a-prime-example-of-a-schizoid-person-maybe-he-had-asperger/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [If I don't have a deadline, I could fuss around with stuff for forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/if-i-don-t-have-a-deadline-i-could-fuss-around-with-stuff-for-forever/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [There's so much art and it's gotten so flashy. In the global marketplace, having art that's shiny and has neon lights is almost what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/there-s-so-much-art-and-it-s-gotten-so-flashy-in-the-global/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [I realized that I wasn't naturally born to good taste. I understand what it is, but I am happy to wear bright colors. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-realized-that-i-wasn-t-naturally-born-to-good-taste-i-understand/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [I feel like I have to avoid certain thrift store-isms, having been known for the thrift store paintings. It's like I have to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-feel-like-i-have-to-avoid-certain-thrift-store-isms-having-been/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [The one thing I'm jealous of a signature-artist situation is that if you just do one thing and slight variations on it, you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/the-one-thing-i-m-jealous-of-a-signature-artist-situation-is-that-if/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [I'm getting more and more isolated as I get on in years. I think people's insanity starts to slowly take over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-m-getting-more-and-more-isolated-as-i-get-on-in-years-i-think/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [I can never remember names. I'm so self-centered and have a terrible memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-can-never-remember-names-i-m-so-self-centered-and-have-a-terrible/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [They say the one thing that people who live the longest have in common is that they have a religious belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/they-say-the-one-thing-that-people-who-live-the-longest-have-in/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [I feel like schizoid is a precursor to schizophrenia or manic depression. I feel like I'm manic. I have parts of schizoid, parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-feel-like-schizoid-is-a-precursor-to-schizophrenia-or-manic/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [One thing I noticed over time is that if I got a bad review, usually the bad part of it was at the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/one-thing-i-noticed-over-time-is-that-if-i-got-a-bad-review-usually/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [I've had far more success than I ever expected. But I do think that a lot of successful artists have an aim to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-ve-had-far-more-success-than-i-ever-expected-but-i-do-think-that-a/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [I'm jealous of that time when you could afford lofts and survive on almost nothing. You can't do that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-m-jealous-of-that-time-when-you-could-afford-lofts-and-survive-on/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) [Explore all 16 Jim Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) ## 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": "There's so many bigger things in the world. 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