--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A writer or painter cannot change the…" description: "\"A writer or painter cannot change the world. But they can keep an essential margin of nonconformity alive.\" — Luis Bunuel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/luis-bunuel-9740_alive_a-writer-or-painter-cannot-change-the-wo_2846408.png" --- # A writer or painter cannot change the world. But they can… ![“A writer or painter cannot change the world. But they can keep an essential margin of nonconformity alive.” quote by Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/luis-bunuel-9740_alive_a-writer-or-painter-cannot-change-the-wo_2846408.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/luis-bunuel-9740_alive_a-writer-or-painter-cannot-change-the-wo_2846408.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/005/luis-bunuel-9740_alive_a-writer-or-painter-cannot-change-the-wo_2846408.png) > “A writer or painter cannot change the world. But they can keep an essential margin of nonconformity alive.” [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists preserve nonconformity, offering alternative perspectives that challenge the status quo. **In simple terms:** Artists keep nonconformity alive. Key Takeaway Support creative dissent. Themes creativity individualism culture Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political activism - education - media production - community projects Key Concepts artistic expression social critique Questions to Reflect On - Why is dissent valuable? - How can artists reach wider audiences? A Different Perspective Nonconformity may alienate mainstream audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Changing the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-the-world/) [Essentials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentials/) [Margins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/margins/) [Non conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-conformity/) [Nonconformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonconformity/) [Nonconformity Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonconformity-alive-3761041/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-painter-429511/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [In any society, the artist has a responsibility. His effectiveness is certainly limited and a painter or writer cannot change the world. But they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/in-any-society-the-artist-has-a-responsibility-his-effectiveness-is/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [All progress has resulted from people who took unpopular positions. All change is the result of a change in the contemporary state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adlai-e-stevenson/all-progress-has-resulted-from-people-who-took-unpopular-positions-2/) [Adlai E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adlai-e-stevenson/) > [I used to want to be a writer or a painter, although I couldn't paint very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jisoo/i-used-to-want-to-be-a-writer-or-a-painter-although-i-couldn-t-paint/) [Jisoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jisoo/) > [I am an expressionist and by that I mean that I'm not a photographer or a writer or a painter or a tap dancer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-am-an-expressionist-and-by-that-i-mean-that-i-m-not-a-photographer/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) > [If I ever meet a writer or a painter, I don't presuppose that they are like the work they are presenting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/if-i-ever-meet-a-writer-or-a-painter-i-don-t-presuppose-that-they-are/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [“If there is a single person at the nexus of fantasy literature, it is Terri Windling -- as editor, as writer, as painter, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/if-there-is-a-single-person-at-the-nexus-of-fantasy-literature-it-is/) [Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/) > [What caricature is in painting, burlesque is in writing; and in the same manner the comic writer and painter correlate to each other; as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/what-caricature-is-in-painting-burlesque-is-in-writing-and-in-the/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [I am convinced that each work of art, be it a great work of genius or something very small, has its own life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-am-convinced-that-each-work-of-art-be-it-a-great-work-of-genius-or/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [America is no place for an artist: to be an artist is to be a moral leper, an economic misfit, a social liability. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/america-is-no-place-for-an-artist-to-be-an-artist-is-to-be-a-moral/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [I don't like to make a distinction between the writer and the painter , finally , because I do both things anyway . Everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-don-t-like-to-make-a-distinction-between-the-writer-and-the-painter/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [“In the world of subscribers, own the book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goitsemang-mvula/in-the-world-of-subscribers-own-the-book/) [Goitsemang Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goitsemang-mvula/) > [“You can do the right thing that seems wrong to others, or the wrong thing that seems right, and its actually puerile to await…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/you-can-do-the-right-thing-that-seems-wrong-to-others-or-the-wrong/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I've always been a nonconformist. I think that nonconformity is part of the American DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-miller/i-ve-always-been-a-nonconformist-i-think-that-nonconformity-is-part/) [Stephen Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-miller/) > [Nonconformity is the highest evolutionary attainment of social animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/nonconformity-is-the-highest-evolutionary-attainment-of-social-animals/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [“More I try to straighten my life, more I'm overcome with the paradox I am. Once the sea attains its vastness, it is impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/more-i-try-to-straighten-my-life-more-i-m-overcome-with-the-paradox-i/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Luis Bunuel > [Mystery is the essential element of every work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/mystery-is-the-essential-element-of-every-work-of-art/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [“Me decía: ¡habrían tenido que hacerme leer a Sade antes que todas las demás cosas!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/me-dec-a-habr-an-tenido-que-hacerme-leer-a-sade-antes-que-todas-las/) [Luis Buñuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [If alcohol is queen, then tobacco is her consort. It's a fond companion for all occasions, a loyal friend through fair weather and foul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/if-alcohol-is-queen-then-tobacco-is-her-consort-it-s-a-fond-companion/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [“A life without memory is no life at all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/a-life-without-memory-is-no-life-at-all/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [A paranoiac, like a poet, is born, not made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/a-paranoiac-like-a-poet-is-born-not-made/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [God and Country are an unbeatable team; they break all records for oppression and bloodshed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/god-and-country-are-an-unbeatable-team-they-break-all-records-for/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [I'm still an atheist, thank God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/i-m-still-an-atheist-thank-god/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [Age is something that doesn't matter unless you're a cheese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/age-is-something-that-doesn-t-matter-unless-you-re-a-cheese/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [I think films are perishable, because they depend too much on technology, which advances too quickly and the films become old-fashioned, antiques. What I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/i-think-films-are-perishable-because-they-depend-too-much-on/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [The decline of the aperitif may well be one of the most depressing phenomena of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/the-decline-of-the-aperitif-may-well-be-one-of-the-most-depressing/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [The bar... is an exercise in solitude. Above all else, it must be quiet, dark, very comfortable-and, contrary to modern mores, no music of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/the-bar-is-an-exercise-in-solitude-above-all-else-it-must-be-quiet/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [I am an atheist, thanks be to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/i-am-an-atheist-thanks-be-to-god/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [I can only wait for the final amnesia, the one that can erase an entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/i-can-only-wait-for-the-final-amnesia-the-one-that-can-erase-an/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [Repeat, over and over again, in case anyone forgets it or believes the contrary, that we do not live in the best of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/repeat-over-and-over-again-in-case-anyone-forgets-it-or-believes-the/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) > [Salvador Dalí seduced many ladies, particularly American ladies, but these seductions usually consisted of stripping them naked in his apartment, frying a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-bunuel/salvador-dal-seduced-many-ladies-particularly-american-ladies-but/) [Luis Bunuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) [Explore all 57 Luis Bunuel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-bunuel/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A writer or painter cannot change the world. 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