--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No, the thing to do is try to make a…" description: "\"No, the thing to do is try to make a painting that will be alive in your own lifetime.\" — Marcel Duchamp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/marcel-duchamp-2390_alive_no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-pain_660021.jpg" --- # No, the thing to do is try to make a painting that will be… ![“No, the thing to do is try to make a painting that will be alive in your own lifetime.” quote by Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/marcel-duchamp-2390_alive_no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-pain_660021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/marcel-duchamp-2390_alive_no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-pain_660021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/marcel-duchamp-2390_alive_no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-pain_660021.jpg) > “No, the thing to do is try to make a painting that will be alive in your own lifetime.” [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists should create works that feel alive and relevant during their own era. **In simple terms:** Make art that lives now. Key Takeaway Create timely, vibrant art. Themes creativity authenticity impermanence Mood inspirational thoughtful Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - personal projects - public commissions Key Concepts artistic vitality present‑focused creation Questions to Reflect On - What makes a work feel alive? - How to balance timelessness and immediacy? A Different Perspective Art may outlive its creator, challenging relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Alive Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive-lifetime-5260807/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Make Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-painting-1420470/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Painting Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting-alive-4065739/) [Things to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-to-do/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [It is not about painting life, it is about making painting alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/it-is-not-about-painting-life-it-is-about-making-painting-alive/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [With all its variety and liveliness, color acts in the work of art as blood does as it circulates through our bodies. Color is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-raffael/with-all-its-variety-and-liveliness-color-acts-in-the-work-of-art-as/) [Joseph Raffael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-raffael/) > [When you make a painting, even abstract, there is always a sort of necessary filling-in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/when-you-make-a-painting-even-abstract-there-is-always-a-sort-of/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [A pair of socks is no less suitable to make a painting with than wood, nails, turpentine, oil and fabric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/a-pair-of-socks-is-no-less-suitable-to-make-a-painting-with-than-wood/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [Different shades of life make the painting more beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/different-shades-of-life-make-the-painting-more-beautiful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I make a painting, it should be seen for what it's set out to do too. A lot of the things that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-done/if-i-make-a-painting-it-should-be-seen-for-what-it-s-set-out-to-do/) [Ken Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-done/) > [For me, Corsica is a place that I visited with my friends, maybe five or six times over the years, and I'm so happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/for-me-corsica-is-a-place-that-i-visited-with-my-friends-maybe-five/) [Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/) > [I strive to make the next painting better than the last one. That's why the most exciting thing to me is the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lyn-nelson/i-strive-to-make-the-next-painting-better-than-the-last-one-that-s/) [Robert Lyn Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lyn-nelson/) > [Make a painting you can work on for a long period, and make it look like it doesn't show any effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-katz/make-a-painting-you-can-work-on-for-a-long-period-and-make-it-look/) [Alex Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-katz/) > [If you are someone like Jeff Koons, and you have to work out how to make a big chrome heart or something, then there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-doig/if-you-are-someone-like-jeff-koons-and-you-have-to-work-out-how-to/) [Peter Doig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-doig/) > [I make sure I make a painting - that's my job. And I cook the Sunday dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-childish/i-make-sure-i-make-a-painting-that-s-my-job-and-i-cook-the-sunday/) [Billy Childish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-childish/) > [If you're not an actor, or if you're any other kind of artist, there's this sense that, "I must express this thing." Why make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-kirke/if-you-re-not-an-actor-or-if-you-re-any-other-kind-of-artist-there-s/) [Lola Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-kirke/) > [There are different kinds of concentration required to make a painting, different kinds of being present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bradley/there-are-different-kinds-of-concentration-required-to-make-a/) [Joe Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bradley/) > [In fine arts, when you make a painting, it's just a painting. But if you make a painting in the entertainment industry, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/in-fine-arts-when-you-make-a-painting-it-s-just-a-painting-but-if-you/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [“Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/cooking-a-meal-that-would-be-consumed-in-fifteen-minutes-had-no/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) ## More by Marcel Duchamp > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Humor is the only reason to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/humor-is-the-only-reason-to-live/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Society takes what it wants. The artist himself does not count, because there is no actual existence for the work of art. The work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/society-takes-what-it-wants-the-artist-himself-does-not-count-because/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/the-creative-act-is-not-performed-by-the-artist-alone-the-spectator/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I believe that the artist doesn't know what he does. I attach even more importance to the spectator than to the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/i-believe-that-the-artist-doesn-t-know-what-he-does-i-attach-even/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Living is more a question of what one spends than what one makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/living-is-more-a-question-of-what-one-spends-than-what-one-makes/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Rational intelligence is dangerous and leads to ratiocination. The painter is a medium who doesn't realize what he is doing. No translation can express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/rational-intelligence-is-dangerous-and-leads-to-ratiocination-the/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Everything important that I have done can be put into a little suitcase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/everything-important-that-i-have-done-can-be-put-into-a-little/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [As soon as we start putting our thoughts into words and sentences everything gets distorted, language is just no damn good—I use it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/as-soon-as-we-start-putting-our-thoughts-into-words-and-sentences/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [The basis for my own work during the years just before coming to America in 1915 was a desire to break up forms -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/the-basis-for-my-own-work-during-the-years-just-before-coming-to/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [The curious thing about that moustache and goatee is that when you look at the Mona Lisa it becomes a man. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/the-curious-thing-about-that-moustache-and-goatee-is-that-when-you/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I am afraid to end up being in need to sell canvases - in other words, to be a society painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/i-am-afraid-to-end-up-being-in-need-to-sell-canvases-in-other-words/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [In the midst of each epoch, I fully realize that a new epoch will dawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/in-the-midst-of-each-epoch-i-fully-realize-that-a-new-epoch-will-dawn/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [To all appearances the artist acts like a mediumistic being who, from the labyrinth beyond time and space, seeks his way out to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/to-all-appearances-the-artist-acts-like-a-mediumistic-being-who-from/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Words such as truth, art, veracity, or anything are stupid in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/words-such-as-truth-art-veracity-or-anything-are-stupid-in-themselves/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) [Explore all 169 Marcel Duchamp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) ## 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": "No, the thing to do is try to make a painting that will be alive in your own lifetime.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcel Duchamp" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-painting-that-will-be-alive-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-painting-that-will-be-alive-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/marcel-duchamp-2390_alive_no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-pain_660021.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/marcel-duchamp-2390_alive_no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-pain_660021.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/814/marcel-duchamp-2390_alive_no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-pain_660021.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No, the thing to do is try to make a painting that will be alive in your own lifetime.” — Marcel Duchamp", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marcel Duchamp", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No, the thing to do is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-painting-that-will-be-alive-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/no-the-thing-to-do-is-try-to-make-a-painting-that-will-be-alive-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```