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2006 Quote by Kurt Vonnegut

“. . . Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, to make your soul grow. Seriously! I mean starting right…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut
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““. . . Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, to make your soul grow. Seriously! I mean starting right now, do art and do it for the rest of your lives. Draw a funny or nice picture of Ms. Lockwood, and give it to her. Dance home after school, and sing in the shower and on and on. Make a face in your mashed potatoes. Pretend you're Count Dracula. Here's an assignment for tonight, and I hope Ms. Lockwood will flunk you if you don't do it: Write a six line poem, about anything, but rhymed. No fair tennis without a net. Make it as good as you possibly can. But don't tell anybody what you're doing. Don't show it or recite it to anybody, not even your girlfriend or parents or whatever, or Ms. Lockwood. OK? Tear it up into teeny-weeny pieces, and discard them into widely separated trash recepticals [sic]. You will find that you have already been gloriously rewarded for your poem. You have experienced becoming, learned a lot more about what's inside you, and you have made your soul grow.””

Kurt Vonnegut

About This Quote

Source Essay: “The Importance of Art,” 1978

Encourages creating art for personal growth, not external rewards, emphasizing self‑discovery and soul development through creative practice.

In simple terms: Create art to grow inside, not for fame.

Key Takeaway

Make art daily for personal enrichment.

Themes

creativity self‑growth authenticity

Mood

inspirational playful

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

  • school projects
  • personal journaling
  • private creative rituals
  • daily art challenges

Key Concepts

psychology philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does creating art reveal about you?
  • How can you keep art private and honest?
A Different Perspective

External validation can distract from true purpose.

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