--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's no question about it. The arts…" description: "\"“There's no question about it. The arts are an extremely high-risk situation. People are willing to take these extraordinary chances to become writers,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/kurt-vonnegut-41_allan-poe_there-s-no-question-about-it-the-arts-ar_966199.jpg" --- # There's no question about it. The arts are an extremely… ![“There's no question about it. The arts are an extremely high-risk situation. People are willing to take these extraordinary chances to become writers, musicians or painters, and because of them we have a culture. If this ever stops, our culture will die, because most of our culture, in fact, has…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/kurt-vonnegut-41_allan-poe_there-s-no-question-about-it-the-arts-ar_966199.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/kurt-vonnegut-41_allan-poe_there-s-no-question-about-it-the-arts-ar_966199.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/kurt-vonnegut-41_allan-poe_there-s-no-question-about-it-the-arts-ar_966199.jpg) > ““There's no question about it. The arts are an extremely high-risk situation. People are willing to take these extraordinary chances to become writers, musicians or painters, and because of them we have a culture. If this ever stops, our culture will die, because most of our culture, in fact, has been created by people that got paid nothing for it-- People like Edgar Allan Poe, Vincent van Gogh or Mozart. So, yes, it's a very foolish thing to do, notoriously foolish, but it seems human to attempt it anyway.”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work thrives on risk; without daring artists, culture would stagnate and die. **In simple terms:** Art needs risk to keep culture alive. Key Takeaway Embrace risk in creative pursuits. Themes creativity risk culture art legacy Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - starting a novel - painting a mural - composing music - launching a cultural project Key Concepts Existentialism humanism value of art Questions to Reflect On - What risks are you willing to take for your art? - How do you balance risk with sustainability? A Different Perspective Risk can lead to financial instability and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ## Related quotes > [When you die, your culture takes you in, and then, if you've given enough, your place is near the centre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bringhurst/when-you-die-your-culture-takes-you-in-and-then-if-you-ve-given/) [Robert Bringhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bringhurst/) > [If a nation allows its literary culture to die, it's a sign that it doesn't fundamentally care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/if-a-nation-allows-its-literary-culture-to-die-it-s-a-sign-that-it/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [One of the most foolish of all human philosophies, is to believe that we all have an unavoidable destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-e-adonis/one-of-the-most-foolish-of-all-human-philosophies-is-to-believe-that/) [Dennis E Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-e-adonis/) > [“And they're also very foolish, because no human being can ever make another human being completely happy. Human beings are far too imperfect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/and-they-re-also-very-foolish-because-no-human-being-can-ever-make/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Human emotions are so foolish to them, and human minds and hearts so fragile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/human-emotions-are-so-foolish-to-them-and-human-minds-and-hearts-so/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“To love another human in all of her splendor and imperfect perfection , it is a magnificent task...tremendous and foolish and human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/to-love-another-human-in-all-of-her-splendor-and-imperfect-perfection/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [It is frequently the tragedy of the great artist for example Vincent Van Gogh, as it is of the great scientist, that he frightens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/it-is-frequently-the-tragedy-of-the-great-artist-for-example-vincent/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I have to accept my role. I will never kill myself like Vincent Van Gogh. Nor will I paint beautiful water lilies like Monet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-have-to-accept-my-role-i-will-never-kill-myself-like-vincent-van/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [When he painted a road, the roadmakers were there in his imagination, when he painted the turned earth of a ploughed field, the gesture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/when-he-painted-a-road-the-roadmakers-were-there-in-his-imagination/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [ I will be an artist. I am sure I will. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/i-will-be-an-artist-i-am-sure-i-will-vincent-van-gogh/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [Artists are mostly shits of the worst order. You wouldn't want one living next door to you. Think about it: Vincent Van Gogh living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-brakhage/artists-are-mostly-shits-of-the-worst-order-you-wouldn-t-want-one/) [Stan Brakhage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-brakhage/) > [“You have first to experience what you want to express. —Vincent van Gogh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/you-have-first-to-experience-what-you-want-to-express-vincent-van-gogh/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [I've always been really fascinated by Vincent van Gogh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-ve-always-been-really-fascinated-by-vincent-van-gogh/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [ You cannot be the good all the time — sometimes it is necessary to get angry. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/you-cannot-be-the-good-all-the-time-sometimes-it-is-necessary-to-get/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/our-goals-can-only-be-reached-through-a-vehicle-of-a-plan-in-which-we/) [Vincent van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. She released a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/like-all-earthlings-at-the-point-of-death-mary-young-sent-faint/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“And contrast Mary Kathleen, if you will, with my wife Ruth, the Ophelia of the death camps, who believed that even the most intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-contrast-mary-kathleen-if-you-will-with-my-wife-ruth-the-ophelia/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Someday, someday, this crazy world will have to end, And our God will take things back that He to us did lend. And if,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/someday-someday-this-crazy-world-will-have-to-end-and-our-god-will/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“They were going back to the slaughterhouse for souvenirs of the war.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/they-were-going-back-to-the-slaughterhouse-for-souvenirs-of-the-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“There are plenty of good reasons for fighting," I said, "but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/there-are-plenty-of-good-reasons-for-fighting-i-said-but-no-good/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) [Explore all 2,089 Kurt Vonnegut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## More Allan poe quotes > [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [ “To me \[Edgar Allan Poe's\] prose is unreadable—like Jane Austin's \[sic\]. No there is a difference. I could read his prose on salary, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/to-me-edgar-allan-poe-s-prose-is-unreadable-like-jane-austin-s-sic-no/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.” ― Edgar Allan Poe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/words-have-no-power-to-impress-the-mind-without-the-exquisite-horror/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [ I would say that Edgar Allan Poe, \[Georges\] Perec, Thomas Pynchon, and \[Jorge Luis\] Borges are all boy-writers. These are writers who take... a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/i-would-say-that-edgar-allan-poe-georges-perec-thomas-pynchon-and/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [The sky was the color of Edgar Allan Poe's pajamas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-sky-was-the-color-of-edgar-allan-poe-s-pajamas/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“EDGAR ALLAN POE was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, the second of three children born to actors David Poe Jr. and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/edgar-allan-poe-was-born-on-january-19-1809-in-boston-the-second-of/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“Edgar Allan Poe called it “the imp of the perverse,” that willful, self-destructive voice within that impels us to do things or say things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-cashill/edgar-allan-poe-called-it-the-imp-of-the-perverse-that-willful-self/) [Jack Cashill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-cashill/) > [I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/i-am-an-invisible-man-no-i-am-not-a-spook-like-those-who-haunted/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [“Suffice it to say I was compelled to create this group in order to find everyone who is, let's say, borrowing liberally from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-schmelling/suffice-it-to-say-i-was-compelled-to-create-this-group-in-order-to/) Sarah Schmelling > [“And so it is with old HPL: the very model of an 18th century hipster, born decades too late to be one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-so-it-is-with-old-hpl-the-very-model-of-an-18th-century-hipster/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1841 classic “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” may have been history’s first behavioral profiler.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-douglas/of-edgar-allan-poe-s-1841-classic-the-murders-in-the-rue-morgue-may/) [John E. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-douglas/) > [“Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet, short story writer, playwright, editor, critic, essayist and one of the leaders of the American Romantic Movement.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/edgar-allan-poe-was-an-american-poet-short-story-writer-playwright/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [“The Rough Beast snorted. “You don’t get it at all, buddy. It’s not about wrestling. It’s about stories. We’re storytellers.” Caperton studied him. “Somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/the-rough-beast-snorted-you-don-t-get-it-at-all-buddy-it-s-not-about/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“Wasn't he the one who sliced off his ear and mailed it to his girlfriend?" "Van Gogh," said Varen, in a monotone that suggested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-creagh/wasn-t-he-the-one-who-sliced-off-his-ear-and-mailed-it-to-his/) [Kelly Creagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-creagh/) > [“To the Greeks this problem of the conditions of poetic production, and the places occupied by either spontaneity or self-consciousness in any artistic work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-the-greeks-this-problem-of-the-conditions-of-poetic-production-and/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) Browse all 71 Allan poe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There's no question about it. The arts are an extremely high-risk situation. People are willing to take these extraordinary chances to become writers, musicians or painters, and because of them we have a culture. 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