Art Quote by John Lennon
“And, because my role in society —or any artist or poet's role— is to try to express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel, not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all. And it's like that's the job of the artist in society, not to… they're not some alienated being living on the outskirts of town. It's fine to live on the outskirts of town, but artists must reflect what we all are. […] If that's taken it too much on meself, I feel that artists are that: they're reflections of society… mirrors.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Rolling Stone, 1970
Artists should mirror society’s emotions, not dictate them, acting as a collective reflection of shared feelings.
In simple terms: Artists reflect, not dictate, shared feelings.
Key Takeaway
Create works that echo common experiences.
Themes
art
society
reflection
empathy
responsibility
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- gallery exhibitions
- community projects
- creative collaborations
Key Concepts
collective consciousness
mirror metaphor
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can artists balance personal voice with societal reflection?
- When does mirroring become mere echo?
A Different Perspective
May be seen as lacking originality if mirroring too closely.
![“We went to America a few times and [Brian] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there came a time when George [Harrison] and I said 'Listen, when they ask next time, we're going to say we don't like that war and we think they should get right out.' That's…” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/512/john-lennon-322_america_we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian_12070.jpg)
