--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Though I do believe that when you live in…" description: "\"Though I do believe that when you live in political times it is inevitable that your art be political, I also think we need to start making activists c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/maya-hawke-11372_art_though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-i_1504624.jpg" --- # Though I do believe that when you live in political times… ![“Though I do believe that when you live in political times it is inevitable that your art be political, I also think we need to start making activists celebrities rather than trying to make celebrities to be activists.” quote by Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/maya-hawke-11372_art_though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-i_1504624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/maya-hawke-11372_art_though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-i_1504624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/maya-hawke-11372_art_though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-i_1504624.jpg) > “Though I do believe that when you live in political times it is inevitable that your art be political, I also think we need to start making activists celebrities rather than trying to make celebrities to be activists.” [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art reflects its era; creators should embrace political relevance while empowering activists as cultural icons. **In simple terms:** Art is political; make activists famous, not celebrities activists. Key Takeaway Promote activist voices, not celebrity activism. Themes politics art activism celebrity culture Mood thoughtful critical inspirational Type philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - campaigns - social media movements - public art installations - political theater Key Concepts cultural influence media responsibility identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance political expression with authenticity? - What risks arise when activism becomes a brand? A Different Perspective Activist fame can be co-opted, diluting genuine causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-making/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [All good art should be political, I think, and inevitably it all becomes political really, in one way or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-o-connor/all-good-art-should-be-political-i-think-and-inevitably-it-all/) [Josh O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-o-connor/) > [I think, in my own life, I'm pretty political. I think I have some very strong ideals, and I struggle a lot with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-in-my-own-life-i-m-pretty-political-i-think-i-have-some-very/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [My art gets called political, as opposed to my intending it to be political. I think that's something that happens with black artists or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamila-woods/my-art-gets-called-political-as-opposed-to-my-intending-it-to-be/) [Jamila Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamila-woods/) > [I wouldn't even say "Imagine" is political. I think it's…more just sort of declaration of humanity. I don't find his political songs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-lennon/i-wouldn-t-even-say-imagine-is-political-i-think-it-s-more-just-sort/) [Sean Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-lennon/) > [I think that all my books are political, I think that I have a political body of work. I am essentially a political woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-teresa-horta/i-think-that-all-my-books-are-political-i-think-that-i-have-a/) [Maria Teresa Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-teresa-horta/) > [I'm not extremely political. I think everything should be layed out and you can make your own conclusions. As soon as I feel I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/i-m-not-extremely-political-i-think-everything-should-be-layed-out/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [I think with the advent of Reagan, and subsequently, both parties, there's been a strong move towards the advantage given to the richer people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-think-with-the-advent-of-reagan-and-subsequently-both-parties-there/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [My film is intentionally political. And I think that's really the issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/my-film-is-intentionally-political-and-i-think-that-s-really-the-issue/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > [I vary from issue to issue and Im not party political at all. I think its important in comedy not to come from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-dennis/i-vary-from-issue-to-issue-and-im-not-party-political-at-all-i-think/) [Hugh Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-dennis/) > [Like art, political action gives shape and expression to the things we fear as well as to those we desire. It is a creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/like-art-political-action-gives-shape-and-expression-to-the-things-we/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [At the same time, of course, Marxism arose - Rosa Luxembourg, Leninism, anarchism - and art became political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-sirk/at-the-same-time-of-course-marxism-arose-rosa-luxembourg-leninism/) [Douglas Sirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-sirk/) > [Art can be political, but when it becomes politicized, the purity is ruined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-loesch/art-can-be-political-but-when-it-becomes-politicized-the-purity-is/) [Dana Loesch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-loesch/) > [“All art is portraiture and all art is political: those are the things that you cannot avoid. When someone sees you in your entirety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/all-art-is-portraiture-and-all-art-is-political-those-are-the-things/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [Art as a political gesture is committed to making something beautiful, and then understanding what beauty is in your own time, because what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-steir/art-as-a-political-gesture-is-committed-to-making-something-beautiful/) [Pat Steir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-steir/) > [There's a widespread cultural barrenness across art and political culture. But there are some pockets of resistance on the extreme margins, like the techno-savvy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/there-s-a-widespread-cultural-barrenness-across-art-and-political/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) ## More by Maya Hawke > [I would recommend any young person who wants to be an actor to go and get some training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-would-recommend-any-young-person-who-wants-to-be-an-actor-to-go-and/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I've never been interested in a career in modelling, I was interested in my independence. When I was in school, modelling was what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-ve-never-been-interested-in-a-career-in-modelling-i-was-interested/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I keep a diary because I love this writer, David Sedaris, and he writes a lot about his diary, and he inspired me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-keep-a-diary-because-i-love-this-writer-david-sedaris-and-he-writes/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [When I was in my early and mid-teens, my style changed constantly. My clothing was inspired by 'Annie Hall' for a while, by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/when-i-was-in-my-early-and-mid-teens-my-style-changed-constantly-my/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I think success is when the way you talk about who you want to be and what you want to do lines up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-think-success-is-when-the-way-you-talk-about-who-you-want-to-be-and/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I really enjoyed shooting in Ireland. The people are so lovely. I hope I don't offend anyone in saying this, but the nature reminded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-really-enjoyed-shooting-in-ireland-the-people-are-so-lovely-i-hope/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Style icons always change, and they usually inspire my haircuts more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/style-icons-always-change-and-they-usually-inspire-my-haircuts-more/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [My parents are actors, and I'm the oldest of my siblings - I have three younger sisters and a brother who's my best friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/my-parents-are-actors-and-i-m-the-oldest-of-my-siblings-i-have-three/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I really love my family. The more independence that I get and the more freedom that I have, the more interested I am in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-really-love-my-family-the-more-independence-that-i-get-and-the-more/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [As an actor on a film, you have no control over the final product - your job is to make a director's vision come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/as-an-actor-on-a-film-you-have-no-control-over-the-final-product-your/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Men should be able to see themselves in female characters and female strength, just as much as women are able to see themselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in-female-characters-and-female/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I have definitely emulated my mom's style more than anyone's. But that may be mostly to do with how often I steal her clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-have-definitely-emulated-my-mom-s-style-more-than-anyone-s-but-that/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Eventually, I realized that there was only so much that I could put in the way of my happiness, and acting made me happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/eventually-i-realized-that-there-was-only-so-much-that-i-could-put-in/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Reminding myself that listening is just as important a creative act as thinking is key for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/reminding-myself-that-listening-is-just-as-important-a-creative-act/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I hate technology and cellphones. I hate having to have one all of the time. I don't tweet or buzz or bing or whatever!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-hate-technology-and-cellphones-i-hate-having-to-have-one-all-of-the/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) [Explore all 60 Maya Hawke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Though I do believe that when you live in political times it is inevitable that your art be political, I also think we need to start making activists celebrities rather than trying to make celebrities to be activists.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maya Hawke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-in-political-times-it-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-in-political-times-it-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/maya-hawke-11372_art_though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-i_1504624.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/maya-hawke-11372_art_though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-i_1504624.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/maya-hawke-11372_art_though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-i_1504624.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Though I do believe that when you live in political times it is inevitable that your art be political, I…” — Maya Hawke", "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": "Maya Hawke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Though I do believe that when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-in-political-times-it-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/though-i-do-believe-that-when-you-live-in-political-times-it-is/#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 } } ] } ```